Jimenez tops leaderboard at Turnberry
Miguel Angel Jimenez missed the cut last year
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By Adam Leveridge. |  |
Thursday, 16, Jul 2009 10:55
Miguel Angel Jimenez equalled the lowest first round in Open Championship history to lead at Turnberry.
The Spaniard carded a six-under-par 64 including a stunning 65-foot putt to birdie the final hole.
Tom Watson is a stroke behind after the 59-year-old went round in 65. The five-time Claret Jug winner fired five birdies to roll back the years in his quest to become the oldest winner of the Open.
But Watson, who was leading for most of the day, was upstaged by Jimenez's late flurry.
The Spaniard, who missed the cut at the Open last year, said: "Since I woke up this morning, the sea looked like a pond, so nice, so calm. You can't ask for a better day to play.
"I was very good from tee to green and with the putter. That's what you need to make a score."
World number one Tigers Woods recorded a 71 after hitting just eight of 14 fairways.
His playing partner Lee Westwood carded a 68 having birdied the first three holes, while former winners Mark Calcavecchia and Mark O'Meara carded 67s along with Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh, Mike Weir and Retief Goosen.
Englishmen Paul Casey and David Howell were a stroke further back, while defending champion Padraig Harrington had two birdies in his 69.
Meanwhile Scottish pair Colin Montgomerie and Sandy Lyle shot 75 and 71 respectively.