 McDowell only scraped into the Open via a qualifying play-off |
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell took the Open lead with a superb bogey-free first-round 66 at Hoylake. Five birdies in seven holes from the par-five 5th and another at the 16th saw McDowell finish on six under.
Anthony Wall fired two eagles to reach six under but dropped a shot on the 17th to join fellow Englishman Greg Owen in a share of second place.
Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke shot 69s but Colin Montgomerie carded 73 and Luke Donald and David Howell 74s.
Elsewhere among the British and Irish contingent, Lee Slattery and Robert Rock made strong starts with rounds of 69, Bradley Dredge shot a 70 and Paul McGinley, Paul Broadhurst and Adam Frayne all came home with 71s.
 | I played solidly, drove the ball really well and didn't make any mistakes |
Paul Casey finished level par, Liverpudlian Nick Dougherty had to settle for a 74, Padraig Harrington and Ian Poulter carded 75s and Paul Lawrie, the last European to win a major, shot a disappointing 76.
Three-time champion Nick Faldo, who was playing with Tiger Woods, endured a miserable day and finished five over.
The 26-year-old McDowell, who only booked his place at Hoylake via a play-off at last month's qualifying at Sunningdale, said: "That was pretty cool.
"I was disappointed not to birdie the last but the 18th tee box has been giving me trouble this week.
"I played solidly, drove the ball really well and didn't make any mistakes."
Wall leap-frogged into the lead with an eagle three at the 534-yard 10th and another at the 554-yard 16th.
 Wall acknowledges the crowd after a superb first round |
But the 31-year-old Londoner three-putted the 17th and could only make par at the par-five 18th.
"I played some good golf but you need the luck. That's the main thing and here I am," said Wall, who only qualified for his second Open by holing a 40ft birdie putt on the final hole of the European Open two weeks ago.
"I value every shot and I've worked things out a bit more in my mind the last year or two. I've grown up a lot.
"I've got two kids. I'll be changing nappies in an hour. I'll go and do my best tomorrow and worrying about it isn't going to make me play any better."
The 34-year-old Owen was one under after a bogey at the 12th before firing four birdies in six holes.
Owen, who revealed he could hardly stand up five weeks ago because of a back injury, intends to use his experience of leading the Open five years ago to maintain his challenge.
 Owen is looking to build on his good record at the Open |
"I have improved over the last few years playing in the United States and I think I can handle things better now," he told BBC Sport.
"There are going to be chances here, especially at 16 and 18, and the lead can change very quickly."
Westwood is enjoying a return to form as he attempts to play his way into the Ryder Cup team.
"I've been lacking confidence," he said. "Between the US Masters and three weeks ago I'd missed seven cuts in a row and been making a mess of it on the greens.
"A 69 is a lot better mentally than 70-odd and I made the most of the par fives."
Montgomerie said his putting let him down badly.
 Montgomerie misses a birdie chance at the 11th |
"It's disappointing," he said. "There was a score to be made but I missed too many chances on the green.
"I practised putting a lot but it didn't feel good on the course.
"The greens were slower because of the overnight rain and I didn't get the ball to the hole because I didn't hit it hard enough."
The 28-year-old Donald said: "I drove it in about every bunker I could drive it in and those are hazards you just can't afford to go in.
"It was frustrating. Today was a great chance to post a low number and I didn't take advantage of it."
Ryder Cup star Harrington believes he probably has too much ground to make up already after a disappointing 75.
"I think I've played myself out of it," said the Dubliner. "I can't blame anything. I had one of those days when not much went right.
"Every time I looked like getting back into it I didn't make the putt and then followed it with a bogey."
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Highlights: The Open first round