The Open Championship, St Andrews, 15-18 July
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Abbott fired three birdies at St Andrews

By Ged Scott BBC Sport at St Andrews

Suffolk's Jamie Abbott slumped to a one-over 73 at St Andrews in his first round at an Open Championship.

But the young man from Ipswich's Fynn Valley still had fun, firing three Old Course birdies before admitting: "I enjoyed every minute of it.

"I had fun. I didn't really feel any nerves on the first tee, more on the second after I'd birdied the first."

But it was a grim day for Essex's Simon Khan, who earned just two birdies, one at the tough 17th, in a two-over 74.

"We definitely had the worst of the weather," said 38-year-old Khan, from Chingford. "But really I just did not play well enough.

"And I'm glad I've got the chance to put it right tomorrow."

Khan, winner of this year's PGA Championship at Wentworth, started with six pars before dropping his only shot of the on the front nine at the 7th.

But two more went at 11 and 13 before his first birdie of the day 14.

Khan won this year's PGA Championship at Wentworth

And, although he then bogeyed 16, he responded very well by producing one of the day's few birdies at the Road Hole.

By contrast, Abbott started with a first-hole birdie, only to then drop his first shot at the fourth.

The 23-year-old East Anglian went back to one under at the seventh before immediately dropping back to level par with another bogey at the eighth.

Then, after six straight pars, he returned to red figures with a birdie at 15, only to suffer a double bogey at the 17th.

"I managed to salvage when I hit some bad shots early on," said Abbott. "But the wind got up and it wasn't easy coming back."

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