ST ANDREWS, Scotland — A couple of spectacular shots propelled home favorite and 1999 champion Paul Lawrie to a six-under-par 66 in the first round of the 144th British Open on Thursday.
The 46-year-old Scot briefly led the 156-strong field after blitzing his way to seven-under through 13 holes before he bogeyed the 17th, the infamous par-four 'Road Hole' at St Andrews.
"I holed a bunker shot at the second...little things like that tend to sort of jump start you a wee bit," Lawrie told reporters after finishing one behind early leader Dustin Johnson of the U.