Tiger Woods still in the hunt but Rory McIlroy assumes Open favouritism

It took Tiger Woods just 19 shots to become Open favourite, the 14-times Major champion making a strong start in round one at Carnoustie, but an ugly back-nine wobble saw him usurped by Rory McIlroy.

Woods, who had not appeared in the Open since 2015 due to back issues, was a 30-1 chance on tournament-eve, but an excellent opening five holes followed by a superb drive at the par-five sixth, saw the legend matched at just 9.6 on Betfair's exchange, topping the market at that stage.

The former world number one, seventh and 12th in his previous Open spins at Carnoustie, sent the galleries wild with a barnstorming performance on the first hole. A pinpoint iron-approach resulted in a birdie, followed by two solid pars, then another fantastic iron was struck to almost tap-in range at the fourth. Suddenly Tiger was two under par through four and Carnoustie was abuzz.

A scrambled par at the fifth, where Woods almost holed his lag putt from off the green, was followed by a perfect tee-shot at the sixth, but his approach found a greenside bunker and he had to settle for par.

American Kevin Kisner leads the Open after shooting 66 on ThursdayCredit: Sam Greenwood

Kevin Kisner set the morning pace, the accurate American scooting round in a five-under-par 66, the 250-1 rag shooting up the betting. Kisner, who eagled the sixth and made four birdies, settled around the 25-1 mark. He had been matched at 610 on Betfair.

Kisner is a two-time US Tour champion who made his debut for his country in the Presidents Cup last year, but it was the likes of Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm – the top five ranked players in the world – who in-running layers were understandably more interested in as the day unfolded.

World number one Johnson endured a miserable afternoon, failing to make a birdie until the 14th hole, then a terrible finish crushed his backers. A bogey at the 16th hole and a triple-bogey at the 18th put Johnson five over par, the pre-tournament 12-1 favourite leaving himself a mountain to climb in his bid for a second Major title, and available at 150-1.

World number two Thomas did much better, racing to four under par through 11, before eventually having to settle for a 69.

Rose made a significant birdie at the 18th hole, but could manage only a one-over-par 72, having taken seven shots at the 14th, the leading British hope in the betting at 16-1 before the off drifting to 33-1 and struggling to improve on his poor Open record.

Koepka, like his pal Johnson, had a start to forget. The dual US Open champion dropped six shots in five crazy holes from the fifth to the ninth, but birdies at the tenth, 12th, 13th, 14th and 17th holes hauled the much-fancied Floridian back into the event, and he signed for a 72.

Jon Rahm is seeking a first Major championship successCredit: Andrew Redington

Rahm will have been pleased with his morning 69, but McIlroy was the European who most impressed bookmakers and is 10-1 for victory.

McIlroy, chasing a second Open triumph after cruising to victory in 2014, putted poorly in the early stages of his round, but a flawless two-under-par back-nine meant a 69 which laid a firm foundation for the next three days, and as he walked to the clubhouse the four-times Major champ had become market leader.

Rickie Fowler birdied the 18th to finish one under par, but his good friend Jordan Spieth spluttered to a 72. Phil Mickelson (two over) and Masters champion Patrick Reed (four over) got off to even more unimpressive starts.

Woods employed his first fist-pump of the day after rolling in a par-putt at the ninth hole after a solid bunker shot. A sloppy bogey at the tenth threatened to derail the round, but a sliding, 35-foot birdie putt at the 11th hole got the three-time Open champion back on track.

Playing conservative golf on the sun-baked layout and using irons off most of the tees, he suffered his first serious setback of the round with a missed tiddler at the 13th, a gutbusting three-putt bogey.

Then he got a plugged lie in the bunker short of the par-five 14th hole, an eagle chance suddenly turning into a disappointing par, followed by bogey at the 15th after he hit his tee-shot into a pot bunker.

Woods closed with three pars to card a 71 and end the day a general 25-1 chance. His last Major triumph was in the US Open ten years ago and his last Open victory was 12 years ago at Hoylake.

Brandon Stone, Scottish Open champion on Sunday after a final-round 60, opened at Carnoustie with a 68 to lurk only two off the pace.

Drizzle is expected from 2am until noon, meaning the course will be softened for round two, and hardly any breeze is forecast throughout.

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