Garcia leads The Open after round one

A sensational first round score of 65 left Sergio Garcia 4-under-par and on top of the leaderboard after the first round at The Open, yesterday.

Garcia's score was 24 shots better than his disastrous opening round at Carnoustie in 1999, where he was famously reduced to tears.

The Spainard heads a European assault on the top of the leaderboard with Ireland's Paul McGinley shooting 67, leaving him 4-under and in second place.

18 year-old amateur Rory McIlroy enjoyed a dream start to The Open, shooting 68. A dissapointing start to his second round has left him on even-par overall at the half-way stage in round two.

Tiger Woods stepped off the 18th green declaring himself have with his score of 69 (-2) but the world number one failed to stay out of the spotlight. A free-drop from some television cables (which were declared an immovable object but an R&A referee) on the 10th caused spectators and fellow-pro's questionning the validity of the drop.

Britain's number one golfer Luke Donald scored a steady 70 yesterday but a double and triple-bogey early in his second round have left him off the pace and with his work cut out.