Fisher finishes well at Turnberry

The 138th Open, Turnberry
Date: 16-19 July
Coverage: Live TV coverage on BBC Two, Online and the Red Button, live on Radio 5 Live and text commentary online on all four days

By Ged Scott
BBC Sport at Turnberry

Fisher insists he will quit The 138th Open if his wife goes into labour

Ascot's Ross Fisher had his mind on the job as he birdied the last three holes to card a one-under 69 on the first day of the 138th Open Championship.

But whether the expectant father stays at Turnberry for the next three days is, he insists, dependant on news of heavily pregnant wife Joanne back home.

"I'm still here, so there's no news," he told BBC Sport.

"I'm just here playing golf and trying not to think about it as, when your mind wanders, you hit bad shots."

Fisher, a serious challenger at last month's US Open at Bethpage, has already revealed that he will head for home at the first sign of the arrival of his first child.

"You do think about it," he confessed. "It's just that you try not to. You just try to stay focused.

When I was two over with three to play, I kind of felt the odd man out

Ross Fisher

"But I'll give Jo a buzz now and finishing the way I did is always going to make dinner taste that little bit better."

While the Open remains a clear second in Fisher's list of priorities now, as he nervously awaits some off-course drama, all the on-course drama came at the start and finish of his round.

After opening with a birdie three, he then dropped one at the third, got it back at the next and was then back to level again after five.

Then came seven straight pars before a brace of bogey fives at the 13th and 14th.

But that proved to be just the prelude to his big finish.

"I was playing with Ben Curtis who has matched Tom Watson's five-under 65 and my other playing partner Mike Weir finished on three under.

"They've both got majors to their name too and when they were under par and I was two over with three to play, I kind of felt the odd man out.

"So it was nice just to get back into red figures."