Sweden's Peter Hedblom hits the first shot of the 135th Open after thunderstorms delay proceedings by 30 minutes

Korea's SK Ho sets the early pace in benign conditions with a birdie at the eighth to move to three under par

Colin Montgomerie is greeted with huge cheers but his hopes of a first major suffer a setback with an opening round of 73

After early thunderstorms, hot and sultry conditions are expected and Darren Clarke makes sure he stays cool

Dazzling the crowd in red trousers and Union Jack shirt, Ian Poulter leaps to get a view of the green at the first hole

US Masters champion Phil Mickelson has an up-and-down start - but he steadies to card a round of three under par

Three-times Open winner Seve Ballesteros is introducing his son and caddie Baldomero to the delights of links golf

Ernie Els, champion golfer in 2002, misses a birdie putt on 12, but makes a decent start with a four-under-par round

England's Greg Owen leaps clear of the field with a birdie at the last to finish with a five-under-par 67

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke struggles on the front nine after suffering bunker trouble but finishes on three under

Their shirts may clash but Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods shake hands - determined to put talk of a rift behind them

While all eyes are on Tiger, Anthony Wall quietly joins fellow Englishman Greg Owen in the clubhouse on five under

Woods takes two to get out of the deepest Hoylake bunker on the 10th, but escapes with par to remain at one under par

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell cards a flawless round of six birdies and no dropped shots to top the leaderboard

Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez rattles in four birdies on the back nine to elevate himself to five under and a share of second

Faldo meanwhile is finding the going tougher - a total of 36 putts tells its own story as he finishes the day five over par

But Woods caps a solid back nine with an eagle on the last to join four others in second place at five under par