Cameron Young stormed into the lead with an eight-under-par 64 in the first round of the 150th Open at St Andrews on Thursday.
The 25-year-old American produced a flawless round featuring no bogeys and eight birdies, including five on the outward nine and one at the 18th.
That gave him a lead of three shots in the clubhouse by mid-afternoon from Australia’s Cameron Smith, who shot a 67.
Ranked 32nd in the world, Young finished tied third in this year’s PGA Championship and has now put himself in a strong position to go on and be a contender into the weekend.
“I think any time you’re around the lead in a Major championship or any PGA Tour event, frankly, you get more and more comfortable every time,” said Young, who first played the Old Course with his parents aged 13.
“Whether I’m leading by three or one or four back after today, I’ll sleep just fine.”
Rory McIlroy was the favourite for the Claret Jug coming into the week and the Northern Irishman, who won the Open at Hoylake in 2014, started strongly to sit at five-under for the day after 14 holes.
© Agence France-Presse
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