Adam Scott admitted he was thinking of making major championship history on the 17th tee on Thursday at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.
At 7-under on his round in benign morning conditions, Scott needed a birdie in the final two holes to shoot the first-ever 62 in men's major championship golf. Instead, he dropped a shot at the last - only his second on the day - to begin the Open Championship with course record-tying 6-under 64. He led by one over Zach Johnson and 1999 champion Paul Lawrie after the morning wave.
"It's nice just to take advantage of the calm conditions today," Scott said. "It was surprising but very pleasing to play some solid golf, which I haven't done in the first rounds of the majors this year."
Scott made eight birdies on the day - including five on the five seven holes of the back nine - with his bogeys at Nos. 3 and 18 for his best-ever start in a major. The round tied Tom Lehman in 1996 for the lowest competitive round at Lytham.
The Aussie, searching for his first major title, attributed the good start to treating the first round like it was the last.
"It's what I haven't done the first rounds of the majors this year, and that was my goal here, really, starting the week was to play today like it was Sunday and there was no tomorrow," he said.
With the wind expected to increase for the afternoon half of the field, Scott is looking good to hold the lead at the end of Day 1.
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