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
 Casey (left) and Poulter discuss their contrasting rounds at Turnberry |
The British contingent suffered a disappointing first day at the Open at Turnberry as the home challenge failed to get going, despite fine conditions. Lee Westwood, Anthony Wall, Graeme McDowell, David Howell and Paul Casey all shot 68 to finish two under, four shots off leader Miguel Angel Jimenez. Ross Fisher, who finished fifth at the US Open, was a shot further behind, alongside Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy. Ian Poulter suffered a disastrous day, ending five over after a 75. It had looked so promising when Westwood started with three birdies in a row in the morning, only to double bogey the 16th. "My confidence is good and I had a great start, it doesn't get better than three straight birdies," said Westwood. "That's why I'm a bit disappointed with 68.  | I'm disappointed. It was a poor round... it was really frustrating |
"I hit a poor shot into 16 and didn't birdie 17, so I think a 68 is just about as bad as it could have been today." Howell also threatened to post a much lower score after reaching the turn in 31, but he was delighted with his overall performance. "I haven't played a decent round of golf all year - I've only made a couple of cuts," said Howell. "But today was by far the best round of the year I've played." Fisher enjoyed his best major last month at Bethpage Black, finishing only three shots behind winner Lucas Glover. He endured a difficult start at Turnberry but the 28-year-old - who is about to become a father - finished in style with birdies at each of the last three holes to fire a 69. "I'm just here playing golf and trying not to think about it as, when your mind wanders, you hit bad shots," said Fisher. | 606: DEBATE |
"You do think about it, it's just that you try not to. You just try to stay focused. But I'll give my wife Jo a buzz now." After a fine start, Casey dropped shots at the 12th and 14th to fall back into the pack and he admitted he missed a chance to shoot a lower score. "It was frustrating but this golf course can jump up and bite you very quickly," said the Ryder Cup star. "I was expecting more from my round. It is early days and I can't be too upset, there is a lot of golf to be played, but I would certainly like to have had better than a 68." Poulter was disconsolate after a birdie-free round that has put him in severe danger of missing the halfway cut. "I'm disappointed. It was a poor round. I didn't manage to strike any shot and it was frustrating," said Poulter. "I didn't feel good on the golf course and didn't execute any shots. If you are going to do that you are going to struggle."
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