Shane Lowry cruised to a bogey-free five-under-par round of 66 as blustery winds caused havoc in the first round of the The Open on Thursday.
The 2019 Open champion looked in total control despite the conditions but world No 2 Rory McIlroy and recently crowned US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau struggled badly in the blustery winds that made life difficult for most of the field.
Four-time major winner McIlroy, whose final-round collapse at Pinehurst handed DeChambeau his second US Open title last month, carded a seven-over-par 78, while the American finished at five over after a round of 76.
Fifteen-time major winner Tiger Woods had an even tougher day, shooting an eight-over par round of 79, while world No 1 Scottie Scheffler finished at one under par.
McIlroy, seeking his second Open title, finished the day 11 shots behind Lowry and 10 back from two-time USPGA winner Justin Thomas.
American Thomas rolled in a 25-foot putt on the 18th to close at three under.
At two under were Sweden's Alex Noren, England's Justin Rose, Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard and Americans Xander Schauffele and Russell Henley.
Afterwards, Lowry said: "It was enjoyable. I got off to a bit of an iffy start and I holed a couple of nice par putts early on and then I got off and running and, yeah, I played some lovely golf. Very happy with it."
McIlroy is already in danger of missing the cut after a nightmare run of holes. At the par-three eighth, nicknamed the Postage Stamp for its small green, he found the Coffin bunker off the tee. On his first attempt to play out, the ball trickled back down the slope into the sand.
After taking double bogey there and bogey at the 10th, McIlroy drove out of bounds at the par-four 11th and incurred another double bogey.
Afterwards, McIlroy said: “The course was playing tough. Conditions were very difficult in a wind that we have not seen so far this week.
“When that happens it presents different options and I didn’t adapt well enough to the conditions.”
He added that his approach on Friday would simply be “to focus on trying to make the cut”.
DeChambeau said: “It's a completely different test and something I'm not familiar with. I didn't get any practice in and I didn't really play much in the rain. I never grew up playing it – I can do it when it's warm and not windy.
“I'm proud of the way I persevered today. I could have thrown in the towel after nine but no, I've got a chance tomorrow. I'm excited for the challenge. If I have some putts go in and hit some shots the way I know how to and figure out this equipment stuff, I'll be good.”
Rose, who came through qualifying to book his place at the tournament, closed with 11 consecutive pars to sit just behind Thomas.
Thomas said: “I feel like everything has been turning the right way, and I've been working on the right things.
“Just like I said, I haven't really had much to show for it. That's just how this game works sometimes. But I know that I'm close the way it is, and I'm just going to keep playing and not play for results, just play for my game, and it'll take care of itself.”
Rose, who burst on to the scene as an amateur at The Open in 1998 and who won the US Open in 2013, said he was confident he could challenge this week.
“I've been around long enough to know that I can [win],” he said. “I know how I'm feeling in the moment and I've been pretty good in my career at sort of winning the special ones.
“That's kind of what I've been really working hard for the last two to three years is to have the opportunity late in my career to have a couple of special amazing opportunities. That's what's keeping me going.”
