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Great Scott Grabs Lead at Open
Strange Start Helps Lawrie Fashion Fantastic Finish
Els Gets Boost from Lytham Links
Tiger Takes Advantage of Vulnerable Lytham
Westwood, Donald Struggle at Lethal Lytham
McIlroy Rallies from Bad Bounce to Challenge at Open
Eagle Wings Lift Choi Level at Open
Filipino Pagunsan Makes Major Debut
Singh Takes "Blind" Route to Open Bid
Thailand's Thongchai Makes Solid Start at Open
Great Scott Grabs Lead at Open
LYTHAM, England, July 19, 2012 (AFP) - Australia's Adam Scott flirted with golfing history at the British Open at Royal Lytham on Thursday before settling for a six-under par 64 and the first-round lead.
The 31-year-old from Adelaide, seen as one of the best players currently not to have won a major title, came to the last needing a birdie to become the first player in the long history of the majors to record a 62.
Instead, a wayward drive into thick Lancashire rough resulted in a closing bogey and meant that Scott was even deprived the satisfaction of joining the 25 golfers who have recorded 63s in major golf.
It was enough, however, to place him atop the leaderboard with the lowest first round ever fired in 11 Opens at Lytham and it matched the course record in Open play, the third-round 64 by Tom Lehman on his way to victory in 1996.
Scott finished the day alone in the lead, but he had a slew of major winners nipping at his heels.
One back on 65 were Scotland's 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie and American 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson, with rising Belgian star Nicolas Colsaerts joining them late in the day.
Brandt Snedeker of the United States was alone on 66, while locked in a four-way tie on 67 for most of the day were 14-times major winner Tiger Woods, 2002 Open champion Ernie Els, 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell and reigning Masters champion Bubba Watson.
They were joined late on by 2010 US Open champion Rory McIlroy, Japan's Toshinori Muto, Steve Stricker of the United States and Peter Hanson of Sweden.
World No. 2 McIlroy birdied the par-four 16th, where he drove the green, and 18th, after taking a double-bogey six at the 15th where his drive smacked a spectator on the head and bounced out of bounds.
Scott said that on the 18th he pulled a 2-iron slightly off the tee.
"It's quite an awkward tee shot with no wind, even. And just got myself in a bit of trouble and tried to be smart and chip out and chip on, but didn't quite hit a good third shot and left myself too much work," Scott said of his bogey at the last.
"But, you know, making a bogey here or there is fine. Making doubles and triples is what really hurts. So just getting out of trouble was good."
Scott was not alone early on in mauling the revered Royal Lytham links course, which first staged the world's oldest golf tournament in 1926 when the legendary Bobby Jones won.
With the fairways and greens unusually soft and receptive after weeks of record rainfall in northwest England, and no breeze to speak of wafting in off the Irish Sea, the layout was largely defenceless.
Until Scott went on his charge down the back nine, Woods had been leading the way at four under after just seven holes.
It could have been even better for the 36-year-old American if not for a depressing run of birdie putts from the eighth hole that went agonisingly close.
He dropped a shot at the 15th but still came in with a fine 67, which leaves him handily placed in his quest for a 15th major title, having waited over four years since he last won the US Open at Torrey Pines.
Woods agreed that Lytham had been at the players' mercy due to the gentle conditions.
"It was pretty soft. The wind wasn't blowing and we're backing golf balls up. That's something we just don't see," he said.
"So we knew that we needed at least to get off to a quick start on that front nine, and I figured a couple under would have been good.
"But I look up on the board and (Adam) Scotty is going pretty low and so is everyone else. I felt I had to make a few more and I was able to."
McIlroy said that he hadn't realised there was out of bounds down the right-hand side of the 15th.
"If he could have headed it the other way, it would have been in the fairway," he joked of his ball's collision with the young spectator's head.
It was a deeply disappointing day for highly-fancied Lee Westwood, who was out to become the first Englishman to win The Open on home soil since Tony Jacklin did so here 43 years ago.
Seeking his first major title after a long litany of near misses, Westwood birdied the first two holes, but then his normally solid iron play let him down as a skewed approach to the third ended in a double bogey.
The World No. 3 had four bogeys down the back nine which left him bemoaning his lack of touch.
Compatriot Justin Rose was another one who failed to take advantage of the benign conditions as he had a 74 while playing partner Sergio Garcia had a 72.
World No.1 Luke Donald, like countryman Westwood desperate to finally bag a major, had a quiet day, with one birdie and a single bogey at the last giving him a round of 70 and his best Open start in five years.
Strange Start Helps Lawrie Fashion Fantastic Finish
LYTHAM, England, July 19, 2012 (AFP) - Scotland's Paul Lawrie turned what felt like the strangest start of his career into a five-under par 65 opening round and a share of second place at the British Open on Thursday. 
Lawrie matched the lowest score of his 59 British Open rounds over 20 years, which had come in the final round in 1993 at Royal St. George's, and stood only one stroke behind leader Adam Scott of Australia through 18 holes.
Lawrie birdied three holes in a row, the last of them a long chip out of rough across the green and into the cup at the par-3 fifth, to reach three-under par and seize the lead without even feeling he had hit a good shot.
"Very strange start, probably the strangest start of my career the first six holes," 43-year-old Lawrie said. "I didn't really hit many good shots and I was 3-under, chipped-in twice and holed it from off the green."
A bogey at the eighth dropped Lawrie back into the pack of contenders, but he closed with three birdies in the last five holes to put himself among six former major champions just behind Scott on the leaderboard.
"I hit some really nice shots and played some solid golf, hit the ball in the right places quite a lot and ended up with a good score," Lawrie said.
"Sometimes you get lucky. We get enough bad luck. It's nice when it goes your way now and again."
Especially when Lawrie came into the event off a shockingly bad putting performance at last week's Scottish Open.
"Spent quite a few hours over the weekend, did quite a lot of work on it," he said. "I putted as poorly as I can ever remember putting on Friday last week at the Scottish Open. Just putted horrific."
The Scotsman went nine years without a victory before ending the drought at last year's Andalucia Open and added another triumph last February in Qatar.
Now he is in contention to lift the Claret Jug for the first time since his lone major title in 1999 at Carnoustie, when he captured a playoff after Frenchman Jean Van de Velde made an epic 72nd-hole collapse.
If Lawrie can pull off the victory, he would have the longest gap between titles in British Open history, surpassing the 1937-1948 interval between Henry Cotton's titles.
"Well it's a great start," Lawrie said. "I've been playing really nicely. Gives us a bit of confidence built up over the last couple years so let's hope I can keep going this week. There's a long way to go. It's only Thursday.
"If you're in this position with nine holes to play on Sunday, then you know you've had a great week. But it's only Thursday. We'll just see what happens."
Els Gets Boost from Lytham Links
LYTHAM, July 19, 2012 (AFP) - Ernie Els is hoping it will be third time lucky at Royal Lytham this week after getting off to a strong start in the British Open with a first round of 67.
That left him two shots off the clubhouse lead and handily placed for a tilt at a second Open crown, 10 years after he won a four-man playoff at Muirfield.
Els, who also won the US Open in 1994 and 1997, tied for second behind Tom Lehman here in 1996 and was tied for third behind David Duval in 2001. He has a particular liking for the compact Lanchashire links course.
"In '96 I ran very close and I bogeyed 16 and 18 to finish two behind Tom. In '01 I was just back in the pack. I finished third, but there was a lot of us. And it was a lot firmer and faster," the popular 42-year-old South African said.
"So I don't know, I just got a nice feel. You can go at it or you can play safe. And I like that, you know, I like those options you have, basically. You can play safe or you can go at it."
Els has been showing signs of getting back to somewhere near his best this year after a long lean spell, notably posting a big challenge on the final day of the US Open in San Francisco last month before fading to ninth.
He was quickly under par in what is his 22nd Open campaign, but dropped strokes at the fifth and sixth before reaching the turn in two-under 32.
He then produced a superb finish, birdieing the 16th and 18th to come in with a three-under par total.
"I felt really good," Els said of his round.
"I think the US Open was a good little test for me. That final round I felt good. And it's all about confidence. And it's starting to grow a little bit in me."
"So today was a big day. As I say, you don't want to play yourself out of it. You can't win it today, but you can get yourself too far behind, so I'm pleased with the round."
Els also had words of consolation for playing partner and defending champion Darren Clarke, who said he was disgusted with himself after struggling to a 76.
"I've been there. I was there, you know. He's hitting the ball beautifully. It's just a confidence thing. Your confidence is low, you get the wrong bounces," he said.
"I mean, he had quite a few unlucky bounces today. It's just a part of the game. It's very difficult. I've been there for over a year. It's difficult to get yourself up from there."
Asked what he thought his chances were of winning a fourth major on Sunday, Els said that he would have been tempted to put some money on himself.
"But I don't think it's allowed. I think I was like 100-to-1 or something?"
Tiger Takes Advantage of Vulnerable Lytham
LYTHAM, England, July 19, 2012 (AFP) - Tiger Woods made the most of what he called the easiest conditions he has seen at Royal Lytham on Thursday to fire an opening-round 67 and stand three strokes off the pace at the British Open.
While his score was one stroke off what he posted as an amateur in his 1996 visit to the Lancashire links course, Woods matched his best round since March to share fourth as he seeks his first major title since the 2008 US Open.
"I played well," Woods said. "I really hit it well. I was very close on making a few more putts. Every ball was starting right on my line. I was very pleased with that. I've just got to hit the putts a little harder."
Woods sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-3 first, followed with a 20-footer at the fourth, added a 15-foot birdie at the sixth and birdied the par-5 seventh to reach four-under and sole possession of the lead briefly.
"It was a good start," Woods said. "I hit the ball well all day. I was just lacking a little bit of pace on the greens coming home."
A bogey at 14 slid Woods back while Australian Adam Scott birdied five of seven holes in a back-nine binge to seize the lead at six-under 64. Woods was among six major winners hot on Scott's heels.
"It was pretty soft," Woods said. "The wind wasn't blowing. So we knew that we needed at least to get off to a quick start on that front nine and I figured a couple under would have been good.
"But I look up on the board and Scotty is going pretty low and so is everyone else. I felt I had to make a few more and I was able to."
"I'm very pleased with what I did today. I only hit one putt that was off line. But every putt was right on my start lines. I just needed to hit the putts a little bit harder. These greens are not quick with the amount of rain that they have had so I've got to make that adjustment."
Woods mostly managed to avoid the deep rough he dubbed "almost unplayable" after his first practice round last Sunday.
"I felt like I had pretty good control. I was shaping the golf ball both ways," Woods said. "Sometimes I rode the wind. Sometimes I held it against it. I had certain sections I wanted to put the ball in and I did that all day."
Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the all-time major title record of 18 won by Jack Nicklaus, is far from secure, knowing stiff breezes off the Irish Sea may yet have their way with the world's finest golfers.
"We've got a long way to go," Woods said. "I got off to a positive start. We have a lot of golf left."
Westwood, Donald Struggle at Lethal Lytham
LYTHAM, England, July 19, 2012 (AFP) - World No. 1 Luke Donald and World No. 3 Lee Westwood struggled across the bunker-strewn Royal Lytham links Thursday, dimming their hopes of a breakthrough first major title. 
A closing bogey left Donald on par-70, six strokes off the pace set by Australian Adam Scott after the first round, while out-of-control Westwood soared to a 73 that featured five bogeys and a double bogey in mild conditions.
"I was struggling in this thing a little bit at the moment," Westwood said. "And you get found out pretty quickly around an Open championship golf course, no matter what the conditions are like."
Westwood and Donald have combined to go winless in 93 major events, 57 for Westwood and 36 for Donald.
Even so, Donald and Westwood were considered the best hopes to become the first Englishman to win the British Open on home soil since Tony Jacklin did so at Lytham and St Annes 43 years ago.
Instead, the scoreboard showed unfancied James Morrison, playing in his first Open, leading the home-nation charge on 68 with Open debutante Matthew Baldwin and second-timer Lee Slattery, hardly household names, on 69.
"If you drove it straight, you could really attack the golf course," said Morrison.
Those who misfired as Westwood did walked off wondering about themselves and the state of their game.
"I have been working on it a few weeks and it has not clicked," Westwood said. "I need to play better than I played today. I'm not going to make up any shots playing like that."
Westwood opened with back-to-back birdies, gave back the strokes with a double bogey at the third, then answered a bogey at the sixth with birdies at the par-5 seventh and par-3 ninth.
But a back-nine collapse saw him bogey four of five holes starting at the 13th, a kick in the gut after such a hopeful start.
"The start sort of was a bit of a lie, really," Westwood said. "It was nice to birdie the first two holes, but I don't feel in control of the ball at the moment.
"Just one of those things. You can't have great form all the time. I am at a point now where it goes left or right. I'm not often straight."
Donald birdied the third hole, then nursed his way around with 14 pars in a row until taking a bogey at 18 to settle for a level-par start.
"I felt like I played pretty solid," Donald said. "I hit a lot of good drives, some pretty solid irons. Hit a lot of greens. Didn't get a lot out of it on the greens and that last hole leaves a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth.
"Still it's hopefully a round I can build off. Looking forward to hopefully going out in the morning and getting some good conditions and making a few birdies."
McIlroy Rallies from Bad Bounce to Challenge at Open
LYTHAM, England, July 19, 2012 (AFP) - Rory McIlroy shook off a double bogey after a wayward tee shot struck a spectator in the head and birdied two of the last three holes to sit among the first-day leaders at the 141st British Open.
The 23-year-old Northern Irishman, who won his first major title at last year's US Open, fired a three-under par 67 to stand three strokes behind leader Adam Scott of Australia after the opening 18 holes at Royal Lytham.
"I thought I did well to keep my composure and keep my concentration and finish the way I did. I'm very pleased with that," McIlroy said. "It's a great position heading into the second day."
McIlroy sank back-to-back birdies at the par-5 seventh and par-4 eighth holes, and after starting the back nine with a bogey, made another set of consecutive birdies at the par-5 11th and par-4 12th holes.
But McIlroy hit a spectator in the head on the bounce with his tee shot at the 15th and the ball rolled just out of bounds, setting up a double bogey that dropped him back to one-over par.
"If he could have headed it the other way, it would have been in the fairway," McIlroy joked.
McIlroy has struck spectators with shots before, but he was concerned enough to ask the young man who was hit if he was all right.
"I've done it a few times before, so it's not the first time," McIlroy said. "The most important thing was that he was OK because I would have felt terrible if it had have been worse than what it was."
McIlroy recovered from the setback with a birdie at the 16th, after missing a 10-foot eagle attempt, and a five-foot birdie at the 18th, leaving him three strokes off the pace but much more content than after his mishap at 15.
"An eventful last four holes, anyway," McIlroy said. "Everything was going along pretty nicely standing on the 15th tee. I had a tee shot slightly right and I got an unfortunate break."
McIlroy's errant shot at 15 prompted medical personnel to check on the young man who was hit. McIlroy autographed a white glove and gave it to the injured man, who proudly displayed his souvenir for television cameras.
"I liked how I reacted," McIlroy said. "I bogeyed 10 from the middle of the fairway with a wedge in my hand so that wasn't so good and reacting to that unfortunate break on 15 the way I did as well is very pleasing.
"That birdie on 18, it will make dinner taste very nice."
McIlroy played in the afternoon, when fewer players were able to command scores that put them on the leaderboard at the bunker-bolstered links layout.
"I think we had it maybe slightly tougher than the guys in the morning and 67 was a score that I'm very pleased with," McIlroy said.
"I was very calm. My emotions were good out there. I felt like I didn't miss many fairways. I didn't miss many greens. It was pretty much under control. I would rate (my game) pretty high at the moment."
Eagle Wings Lift Choi Level at Open
LYTHAM, England, July 19, 2012 (AFP) - South Korea's K.J. Choi, three-over par after only six holes in Thursday's first round of the British Open, eagled the par-5 seventh on his way to an even-par 70 fightback round at Royal Lytham.
The eight-time US PGA Tour winner, who has missed the cut in two of his last three British Open appearances, struggled early with his distance control, taking bogeys at the second, fifth and sixth holes before his unlikely eagle.
"In the beginning things weren't panning out well. It was a hard day and I thought to myself that this year would be another disappointing tournament for me again," Choi said.
"That eagle really changed the mood.
"Before I was getting ready to hit the putt, my caddie said 'You are going to make the putt.' Then I putted and it actually went in. I turned to him and said 'How did you know?' It was from 35 feet out."
Choi, whose only top-15 showing in 12 prior Opens was a share of eighth a Carnoustie in 2007, caught a flier from the rough simply to produce the extra distance to reach the green and set up the long putt.
"If it was on the fairway, it would have ended up short, but because it was in the rough, I actually hit a flier and it found the green and made the eagle possible," Choi said.
"I had trouble with my irons early on. I thought they would bounce (onto the green) but they came up short. That gave pressure on my putting and even the bunker shots were kind of difficult."
Choi said the calm conditions threw him off after daysof practice in stiff breezes.
"It was subtle winds and it made the round more difficult," Choi said. "If it was strong winds, you can hit it accordingly. Subtle winds kind of confused me. You hit your shot and you know your yardages but I couldn’t figure it out."
Countryman Y.E. Yang, who became the the first Asian man to win a major by capturing the 2009 PGA Championship, fired a 74 while Bae Sang-moon and Kim Kyung-tae, both former Asian Tour winners, shot 72 and 75 respectively.
Filipino Pagunsan Makes Major Debut
LYTHAM, England, July 19, 2012 (AFP) - Asian Tour number one Juvic Pagunsan overcame his nerves to fire a one-over par 71 on Thursday in his major debut at the British Open.
The Filipino standout, who won last season's Order of Merit, had two birdies against three bogeys, the last coming on the 18th hole at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
"I would have taken this at the start of the round," Pagunsan said. "I was a bit nervous on the first tee when they called my name, being my first major and with the crowds there.
"However, it was very exciting to come out for the first day. I focused on my swing and how I wanted to put my ball on the fairway. If you miss it's tough. I missed my drive on the left on 18 and I was actually lucky to make bogey."
While Pagunsan, 34, gave himself a solid chance to make the cut, his putter let him down several times.
"I hit it really good but missed a lot of putts and a lot of opportunities," he said. "The touch wasn’t good enough. Hopefully tomorrow."
He was disappointed to bogey two of the par three holes on his outward nine.
"Missed my tee shots on five and nine. Nine is not really good as I only had a short iron on the tee. It was really bad," he said.
"Towards the end of my round, it was a bit freezing on my hands when the winds started to blow a bit. It wasn't good enough but I'll take this score."
"My wife said to try to make the cut first and then think about the last two days. I have been talking to her every night. She has been telling me to relax and enjoy the occasion. I'm trying."
Singh Takes "Blind" Route to Open Bid
LYTHAM, England, July 19, 2012 (AFP) - India’s Jeev Milkha Singh was kicking himself after allowing a flying start to end in a level par 70 in the first round of the British Open on Thursday.
Singh, who won the Scottish Open in a play-off on Sunday, was on top of the leaderboard at three-under-par through 11 holes at a benign Royal Lytham and St Annes but dropped three shots over the next two holes.
The two-time Asian Tour number one bounced back with a birdie on 14 but dropped another shot on 17 after finding thick rough with a wayward tee shot.
Still, the Indian star was pleased with his effort, considering he only played six holes in practice after gaining a last-minute ticket into The Open from his Scottish success.
"I played really well the first 11 holes. I think the 13th hole was the hole that got me," he said.
"I hit a bad shot and I think I got greedy with it. When you hit it in the rough you need to take your medicine and move on. I made a double there but came back with a birdie on the next and made some good pars coming in.
"I think I've just got to stay patient. I'm happy. I've come away with a 70. I thought I could have done much better. But it's alright and I look forward to the next three days."
Singh had only a brief look at the links layout on Tuesday and then spent several hours at the range on Wednesday. He said he relied on his long-time caddie, Janet Squire, to map out his game plan.
"I take it in a way that if you play a lot of practice rounds, you see a lot of trouble. So you might as well not see it, you might as well just tee it up straight and see the good and go for it," he said.
"Sometimes it works for me, sometimes it doesn't. I'm still happy. I think it worked for me, and I'm going to do the same most of the time," said the 40-year-old Indian.
"I like to play the golf course blind. I think that's why I paid my dues on No. 13, but that's alright.
"It could have gone my way, and it couldn't have, too, but that's all right. That's the way I like playing coming into a tournament. I think mentally I was a little tired so I just wanted to take it easy.
"I rely quite a bit on her (Janet), because she's walked the course a few times and I just ask her where to go and just look at the yardage book and fire away."
Singh, whose best finish in a major was tied for ninth in the 2008 PGA Championship, started brilliantly with a 25-foot birdie conversion on the first hole before holing another long effort on the fourth.
"He snared three more birdies and dropped bogeys on the seventh and 17th holes and a double on 13 where he took two shots out of a greenside bunker.
"I saved a lot of good pars, especially the last hole. Leaves a good taste in the mouth. I think lunch is going to taste good," he said.
Thailand's Thongchai Makes Solid Start at Open
LYTHAM, England, July 19, 2012 (AFP) - Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee matched his best start in six British Open appaearances on Thursday, firing a one-under par 69 to put himself into contention after the first round at Royal Lytham.
The three-time Asian Tour number one stayed well clear of the pot bunkers strewn across the links layout and snared three birdies against two bogeys to equal his start at Turnberry in 2009 when he finished in a share of 13th.
With calm conditions greeting players with early tee times, Thongchai took full advantage with birdies on the second, par-5 11th and 16th holes but dropped shots on the sixth and 17th holes.
"We got lucky with the weather," Thongchai said. "When we first started, it was rainy in the morning but it stopped and the wind wasn’t strong. You can see it in the scores which are quite low. I’m happy.
"The course is not very long. I used the driver only twice and the main thing was my course management. Fairways, greens and putts are the key. My tee shots were good -- no bunkers on the fairway and only two on the greenside."
Thongchai, coming off a victory last month at the Wales Open, has not missed a cut in his past 10 starts in Asia and Europe.
Following his victory in Wales and a memorable performance in Turnberry where he was in contention on the last day, the 42-year-old Thai standout gave himself a chance to be in the hunt for the Claret Jug on Sunday.
"It's a major and there are very strong players but I will try my best," said Thongchai.
"First British Open, I knew the weather was important. It was killing me. It was windy, very cold and also raining. Now, I have learned how to play links course and how to use the weather. I feel confident now."
The former paratrooper was happy to sign for his card, saying that work done with his coach on Wednesday had fixed a slight problem with his swing.
"Last week, I was quite tired and my body was moving too much," he said. "I worked with my coach and now it has come back. Today I hit it good."
Complete scores on Thursday after the first round of the 141st British Open golf championship at par-70 Royal Lytham and St Annes:
64 - Adam Scott (AUS)
65 - Paul Lawrie (SCO), Zach Johnson (USA), Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL)
66 - Brandt Snedeker (USA)
67 - Ernie Els (RSA), Bubba Watson (USA), Graeme McDowell (NIR), Tiger Woods (USA), Toshinori Muto (JPN), Rory McIlroy (NIR), Steve Stricker (USA), Peter Hanson (SWE)
68 - Jamie Donaldson (WAL), James Morrison (ENG), Thomas Aiken (RSA), Scott Pinckney (USA), Anders Hansen (DEN), Jbe Kruger (RSA), Anirban Lahiri (IND), Justin Hicks (USA)
69 - Matthew Baldwin (ENG), Adilson Da Silva (BRA), Thongchai Jaidee (THA), Matt Kuchar (USA), Charl Schwartzel (RSA), Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN), Bob Estes (USA), Brendan Jones (AUS), Steven Alker (NZL), Lee Slattery (ENG), Richard Sterne (RSA), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Fredrik Jacobson (SWE), Marc Leishman (AUS), Ted Potter (USA)
70 - Jeev Milkha Singh (IND), Simon Khan (ENG), Kyle Stanley (USA), Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Vijay Singh (FIJ), Thomas Bjorn (DEN), Jason Dufner (USA), Martin Laird (SCO), Troy Matteson (USA), Aaron Townsend (AUS), K.J. Choi (KOR), Hunter Mahan (USA), John Senden (AUS), Padraig Harrington (IRL), Luke Donald (ENG), Retief Goosen (RSA), Andres Romero (ARG)
71 - Garth Mulroy (RSA), Mark Calcavecchia (USA), Greg Chalmers (AUS), Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP), Bill Haas (USA), Davis Love (USA), Nick Watney (USA), Ian Poulter (ENG), Yoshinori Fujimoto (JPN), Tom Watson (USA), Aaron Baddeley (AUS), Warren Bennett (ENG), Dale Whitnell (ENG), Juvic Pagunsan (PHI), Greg Owen (ENG), Marcus Fraser (AUS), Carl Pettersson (SWE), Harris English (USA), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (ESP), Angel Cabrera (ARG), Bo Van Pelt (USA), Keegan Bradley (USA), Rickie Fowler (USA), Alexander Noren (SWE), Richie Ramsay (SCO), Ashley Hall (AUS)
72 - Todd Hamilton (USA), John Daly (USA), Raphael Jacquelin (FRA), Stewart Cink (USA), Sergio Garcia (ESP), Steven Tiley (ENG), Lucas Glover (USA), Charles Howell (USA), Paul Casey (ENG), Mark Wilson (USA), Simon Dyson (ENG), Ross Fisher (ENG), Sang-Moon Bae (KOR), Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), Geoff Ogilvy (AUS), Toru Taniguchi (JPN), Jim Furyk (USA), Koumei Oda (JPN), Troy Kelly (USA)
73 - Barry Lane (ENG), Rafael Echenique (ARG), Chad Campbell (USA), Johnson Wagner (USA), Lee Westwood (ENG), Dustin Johnson (USA), Kevin Na (USA), Daniel Chopra (SWE), Joost Luiten (NED), Nicholas Cullen (AUS), Tom Lehman (USA), Pablo Larrazabal (ESP), Gregory Havret (FRA), Gary Woodland (USA), Branden Grace (RSA), Phil Mickelson (USA)
74 - Sandy Lyle (SCO), Alejandro Canizares (ESP), David Duval (USA), Stephen Ames (CAN), Yang Yong-Eun (KOR), Justin Rose (ENG), Ryo Ishikawa (JPN), Steven O'Hara (SCO), Michael Thompson (USA), Marcel Siem (GER), George Coetzee (RSA), Chez Reavie (USA), Trevor Immelman (RSA), Richard Finch (ENG), Jonathan Byrd (USA), Alvaro Quiros (ESP), Manuel Trappel (AUT), Andrew Georgiou (RSA), Morten Orum Madsen (DEN)
75 - John Huh (USA), Justin Leonard (USA), Alan Dunbar (NIR), Brad Kennedy (AUS), Paul Broadhurst (ENG), Kim K.T. (KOR), Ben Curtis (USA), Robert Allenby (AUS), Prayad Marksaeng (THA)
76 - James Driscoll (USA), Tim Clark (RSA), Darren Clarke (NIR), Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN), Sam Walker (ENG), Elliot Saltman (SCO), Ian Keenan (ENG)
77 - Tadahiro Takayama (JPN), Kodai Ichihara (JPN), Martin Kaymer (GER), Mardan Mamat (SIN), Grant Veenstra (RSA)
78 - Robert Rock (ENG)
79 - Michael Hoey (NIR)