Day 1, Part 1 Golf: The Open

It is that time again. Good morning ladies and gentlemen, this is game

number one. From the USA, Gerry APPLAUSE.

Welcome to Royal St George's for the 140 at Open Championship. --

Through the gates, and just been on the right of. If all England were a

golf course, this would be the first tee, and the 18th green. 13

times, the great and the good have strode out from this quirky corner.

A southern softie? Not this one. Peril can show its face at the very

first turn. All the very last. -- A reminder of the end during the

truth of sport. It is not how you start, but how you finished --

Endings and beginnings. This golfing gear -- year, the Open

Welcome to the Kent coast and the luscious links of Royal Saint

George's. Here we are on the first p, play has been under way since

6:30am. -- the first tee. We have over one had done 40 hours of live

golf before you in this golf Open Championship. 156 golfers are

hoping to be the man to claim the claret jug here. Most of the

attention has been on a Rory McIlroy. He is on the practice

putting green at the moment. In a few minutes, he will make the short

walk off 100 yards off Stoke to the first tee. His tee off time is

9:09am. Usually reserved for Tiger Woods. But the man at the centre of

attention, the US Open champion of three weeks ago, Rory McIlroy. He

tees off at 9:09am, you will see that on BBC Two. If you are going

to be open champion, and of Rory McIlroy, certainly wants to do it,

the first thing you have to conquer Sandwich is famed for the humps and

hollows on the fairways. A little bit of long rough about as well,

not too bad, half a chance of playing on to the green. The

bunkers are the usual deep chasms. Bloody sand but to be avoided at

all cost. -- love the sand. It is the challenging conditions that

will be at the forefront. A scudding breeze across the course

and some rain. This is links golf. It is going to be a real battle

over the next four days, and know Tiger Woods, as we mentioned, but

plenty of big cats in a strong I always go back to what the great

Jack Nicklaus said, he had half the field beaten at the start of the

week because they didn't believe they could win the Championship. We

have a host of players trying to win the first Major. Who believe

they can? Mental strength will be critical, as it always is. Whoever

wins this week will be following in Sometimes the claret jug of falls

into unexpected Hants, and other times it goes to the greats of the

game. Sometimes it goes to those who the home crowd are willing on

to success. Whoever has there moment on the final green on Sunday

night, it will be a moment that they and others will always

remember. They will be clenching their fist on the 18th green on

Sunday? Will it be Rory McIlroy? A fantastic reception for him. Lots

of people talking about him this week. He said yesterday, he has

only won three tournaments, but it is the man at in which he won the

US Open three weeks ago by eight shots that has got everybody so

excited -- the manner in which. Let's have a look at some of the

tee-off times. Just ahead of of Rory McIlroy's Group, we have Paul

Casey. He is alongside Ben Curtis, the champion of at 2003. And Aaron

Just to let you know, the afternoon golf, some great games coming up.

Lee Westwood at 2:10pm and also the reigning Open champion lily is

1,000 goes off at 221 -- Lewis's 1,000. We will concentrate on Rory

Rory McIlroy is playing -- was playing golf with his dad on Monday

in Ireland, this will be very different as he tees off in the

Open Championship. This is the 14th we have had at royal St Georges. We

will hand over to the commentary rather blustery day. Play started

at 6:30am, an ungodly hour, but the course so far has not been mastered

by anybody. Now we have some pretty this three ball gets ready to smack

them a wave. Benny Els, Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler -- Ernie

brilliantly. But the next four days will tell us something. Let's have

a look down this first hole. They have flattened a bit of a down. A

Three huge bunkers at the front. And often, the greens are slightly

raised and the ball so easily wanders off. A lot of these greens

around 6am. Fancy starting a round of golf at 6 am! And only a bowl of

cereal to keep you going. Maureen Madill will be strolling out, how

it is it? It is tremendously exciting. The atmosphere is

building with huge crowds already. Rory McIlroy is looking limber and

Lewis, as part -- as are his playing companions. This is game

number 15. From South Africa, Ernie Els.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

is much more downwind. Not the at Rory McIlroy.

does. Since the Masters, he has done so well to just get on with

his game. Beautiful to watch. On the tee, from the USA, Rickie

What a good shot back tears. -- what a good shot at that is. An

extra 30 or 40 yards. And off they grandad in that group, with a

couple of 22 year-olds. -- Ernie Els. He looks like a giant

We have got Matt Taylor, Al weatherman. We have mentioned the

course and looked at the field, and talked about the probabilities, but

the weather always comes into an Open Championship. What can we

expect today? Luke Donald said it could be the weather that dictates

this Open Championship. Today, we have probably seen the worst. It

should be dry, but there is still a blustery wind. It is probably

favouring those who will tee off later on. All the rest of the

weekend, tomorrow will be the best day, the driest and the sunniest

with light winds, but into the weekend it gets interesting. A lot

of rain around on Saturday with strong winds and they will continue

into Sunday. So it will get very interesting as we get towards the

weekend. I am sure you will keep this up to date to let the next few

days. Thank you for joining us. days. Thank you for joining us.

Let's bring you up to date with the gold and show you the leaderboard

1989. He was in the second group wrong for him in 2003 here at 16.

The group of at 9:09am, McIlroy, Danielle's and Rickie Fowler. --

Ernie Els. We will hand back to the commentary team and we should give

them the big build-up. A Mark James and Peter Alliss, who is

commentating -- has been commentating -- has been

commentating for 50 years now. There is no need to tell everyone I

have been doing this for 50 years, but I remember it very well, it was

at Birkdale. Cliff Mitchell ball was Alla Hazel Irvine. He is a

little bit different. -- our Hazel Irvine. John Jacobs was there and

all in all, it was the start of a wonderful journey for me. I have

kept fooling everyone 4-over 50 years and it looks as though I

might be looking everyone -- might be able to continue to doing that.

The game fascinates me, all of the new preparations with the golf

course, they equipment and all the bits of pieces that go with setting

up this Championship. The infrastructure is colossal and the

way it is organised by everybody from the Royal and Ancient to all

the volunteers, it is absolutely stunning. When you think of the

stunning. When you think of the effort that goes into it, and it is

so disappointing if the weather plays a Major part in proceedings.

I said earlier, the greens are difficult to find here, they are

slightly raised. A lot of them are. There is a lot of forelocks. --

fall off. They are angle across the player. I was talking to Tom Watson

who said that finding the greens here is one of the most difficult

Championship courses. So there will be mistakes made. Some of them will

be unforced. It is a par 70, which players. Rory McIlroy pointed

across to Rickie Fowler on the left-hand side of the fairway. This

hole goes down wind. The challenge will be to get a grip on the ball

and not go bouncing through. Trying to lift it up, but it might be

difficult to spin it out of the rough. He did pretty well. It went

trickling to the back. That is the problem with the first hole. You do

to stop. The flag on the front and that will go down at the back. And

then you are faced with a chip and run. Everybody will be in the same

boat. And the first tee a for Luke Donald, the world number one. What

a delight for player he is to watch. But first, Ernie Els. He should get

a little more spin. And he cut that very fine. It was a good shot.

There is a bunker at 350 from the tee, so we will see a lot today. He

has a chance for a birdie. You get an idea of how large the exhibition

tent is on the right-hand side. The television compound is on the left.

And our friends from the United States I here with the golf

channels. -- are here. It takes a done. It looked as if it was going

to come out. That was a good hole memories he has of years ago. Three

shots ahead with three or four holes left. But he took many shots

to get out of the bunker and his not want to start with a three from

the edge of the first green. This can be very slow into the wind.

This is a feature of links course golf. Years ago it would be a

perfect chip and run with an 8-iron at most. Some of the greats a few

years ago would have used a 5-iron touching. Rickie Fowler has a rise

in front of him. It will sweep from the right-hand side. I am not

surprised to see Rory McIlroy watching this very closely.

decided to putt it. How about this? A I think he did. Now, there is no

excuse for Rory McIlroy it to miss off. And that puts it up to Rory

McIlroy. The pace of the opening putt is crucial to the whole day.

It is fascinating how the ball move playing it cagey with a 3-wood.

Avoiding the bunker on the right and leaving a shot into get

kick. He was in the rough and now group. What do you reckon? They

could not have a much easier tee shot. As tee shots go at the Open

Championship, it is downwind, to the left. I'm sure there are still

a few nerves. But this is Garcia!

APPLAUSE A crowd favourite, Garcia. He has been in the doldrums the

last two or three years. He has struggled with his putting and lost

his game for a while. There have been signs this years he is putting

better. There are not many players who have more shots than Sergio

Garcia. And a links golf course his even with that, for some of these

guys, they will get close to the official with every match. There is

some body volunteering as bunker back down there and it did not take

year-old. We are joined by Ken Brown. You will be commentating

later. You have looked at the greens. Tom Watson has won this

tournament five times and says that the greens are harder than any

other on the open rota. They have some of the biggest slopes and run-

offs. There are many breaks and Burroughs. They are very tough to

putt. It will be tricky to get iron shot within ten feet. Rickie Fowler

made a mockery of that this morning. He got a putt from 30 odd feet.

stand at the first was deserted. His tee shot drifted. He could not

spin his iron shot. A lot of players will go to the back of the

first green. Not an ideal start, but the support is unbelievable.

This will give you an idea of the breeze. It is straight down the

first. Not an easy pin on that first corner. I will have a go.

Let's get back on with the golf. We can go to Rickie Fowler on the

first green. After that monster putt from off the green, about 25

yards, maybe, it will be Rickie Fowler with the honour. He sneaked

in and drove before we were looking. It looks like a 3-wood, which --

which is an aggressive player. a Rickie Fowler hitter good one?

am quite a long way down the fairway. I think he took his driver.

I am not able to see it but I think it is on the left-hand side. I am

getting a signal that it looks OK. You are certainly not over the

hill! Ernie Els is chopping and changing. He is out with the big

furniture, I think. The 7th hole. Alvaro Quiros. This is for eagle.

This would be sweet. Well done! think the wind power to go over. --

took over. It has taken a while to make a decision. Let's hope it is

the right one. It is the timber. think he is going for the green

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

with that. 415 yards downwind. It Ishikawa, and it is a difficult

shot. -- only 78 yards. If he went for the chip and run and he was

Quiros. This is for birdie which would put him 2-under. It is a big

hole on this green. They are both a is how they stand at the moment.

Play has been going on for three hours. 6:30am. Poor old Jerry Kelly.

He started the first ball. He had a miserable time when he was here

years ago and he has not made much progress since then. He is well

over-par, but he still has a cheery smile on his face. The par here is

70, which is brutal. The yellow numbers tell us how many holes they

have played. The young Italian prodigy, Matteo Manassero. And this

championships and tournaments. A very talented player. We have some

good young talent. Sergio chipped At the last six or seven feet, it

turns left. It was plain to see when Rickie Fowler holed that long

Lovely start. Just got him as an alternative as well, so he is

making the most of it. Maureen is lurking down that on the second

somewhere. Where are they all? is very interesting, they have all

elected for a different strategy. McIlroy leaving himself 126 yards

back and it is a bit of an evil back row pin position. It is just a

teetering on the top of the bank. The ball is swept away down into

authorities, but if they knew the wind was going to be this strong

and a following wind on the first and second, to put the flags where

they have done, it is testing once can see it gathering eventually

from that side, it is in a little cut, back back row pin. MAUREEN

MADILL: Rickie Fowler has come down the same way he did at the first.

Just a quarter turn in this hole. It is sweeping slightly from left

to right. He is going to take a bead well left of this flag. The

wind and the ter rain will sweep it down the right-hand side. -- the

rain. It is a question of just trying to get the ball in the

middle of the green, irrespective gnashing of teeth if this wind

started this. -- tippy tappy. They MAUREEN MADILL: Ernie Els must have

breathed a sigh of relief, when he saw it had fell short, but this is

difficult. It is difficult, of course. We have only been going

three and a half hours and already I think the direction is reasonably

friendly overall for the course. But I don't fancy the first two

more difficult because of the hole position. Sergio has had problems

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

the last year or two but that was drive and a little chip. This wind

is accelerated and the ball down the fairway. You get some idea of

the running of the green. The back left where the flag is, there is a

hump in front of it. You can see it, even though these are two

dimensional cameras. Can Rickie putts whether more he gave it the

more it would have borrowed, trying to get bad combination of distance

and line. -- that combination. He needs to put a good stroke on this

one, just to settle him down if kept the second. He is just trying

to find his touch bash too strong, at 6:41am with Mark Calcavecchia.

And on by Chidi. -- and Thongchai up the slope here. If he gives it

more pace, he can come straight at wind sweeping across. He has to be

for Rory, this will be just left of centre, I fancy. A little bit of

short there it was. Ken Brown has made his way back into the box. He

is wiping his glasses. He has a look of keen anticipation on his

face. Any minute now, you will hear from the mighty brand. But before

that, we will look at Mark comfortable club house, but it is

quite the distance from the 18th green and the first tee. You can't

sit in the window watching old Fred bashing one off. Or should I say

the lieutenant Colonel bashing one KEN BROWN: This third hole plays

the directly down breeze, which doesn't make it any easier. A

narrow putting surface, and the tee today cut up on a little tearful

them up a little bit from the back off the tee. I have not seen this

wind here. Usually you are contending with crosswinds on this

hole, and at the moment it is funnelling straight down. A 4-iron

these balls all gather up at the been for the bank, it would have

been 50 yards over. Pitched the ball right on the very front of the

buzz out of playing with these two youngsters. He turned professional

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

Danielle's. -- a very nicely judged the former US PGA Championship.

is great to be back at the Open Championship. Ernie Els, I played

with him back in 1993, he was a 25- year-old up-and-coming young

practice ground. The wind right behind it. A strong wind. In the

practice rounds, it was hard left at the top of the pile is Thomas

DAN WALKER: We are out on the third tee and we have one Northern Irish

legend on the golf course and one here, Barry McGuigan has joined us.

You are a good friend of person -- Bob McIlroy. Howard you think he

has started off? -- how do you think. Not ideal, but he is used to

playing links courses. He is able to cope with that type of situation,

but there is a long way to go and he seemed to have got it together

after the first hole. It is just about holding good. In these sort

of conditions, anything can happen and the game can change with two or

three good shot. You know what it is like around here, you have

played it many times and you know how tough it is even for

professionals. It is incredibly hard. The Americans must be

heartbroken, it is one thing play with the wind is then but when the

wind is up, it makes it so difficult. There are not meant to

be high scores, low scores. It is going to be pretty ordinary,

because the wind takes the ball everywhere. It is about keeping

your patience, and the greens are bumpy and fast. It is all up in the

air. It will be interesting to see who will hold their nerve up and

keep it together. The short game is so important. I saw you having a

long chat with McIlroy on the practise green. What sort of mood

is he in? He is a very mellow and humble kid, he keeps things very

simple. He has a great family around him. I don't think anything

has changed. He has had a bit of a break since the US Open and taken a

bit of time to settle down and allow the euphoria and hysteria to

die down. He is a level-headed kid and does things right, keeps things

nice and calm. He has a bright future ahead of him. Thank you. You

throw Levin punch and hit a mean golf ball. Let's go back to the

It was a wonderful shot. It was difficult to control out of the

this. He had a lot of grass between the ball and the club and that was

the danger, he got a little bit too much. A very difficult combination

coming downhill, but into the wind. Not an easy start for Rory.

definitely could not have been more different conditions from the US

Open. It was hot, the greens were soft. The course played quite long.

plays mostly in the United States. His caddy is Alan Bond. We call him

the links at Sandwich. It will be a test of patience and the ability to

control trajectory. Judging the breeze. Ernie Els facing a

switchback putt. Swinging from right to left. It will gather pace

as it comes towards the hole. He has to be careful because the

the win in 2002 at Muirfield. 41 years old. I wonder if there is

another Major left in him. He would join just a few players to make

Majors once they have reached the age of 40. I think most of the

break has been taken out of this rough with this move, this week. Do

not get cross with yourself and the week. Vijay Singh withdrew and

he got in. He will be delighted. Twice has been a runner up in the

Open Championship. They were both with his patients and touch around

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

third for a bogey. Not the ideal start for Rory McIlroy. As he makes

his way to the 4th tee, this is the 4th hole. Very famous. You can see

something to be worried about. Ken Brown has been investigating.

4th tee shot into the breeze is spooky. On the right-hand side

there is a bunker, and it is a big bunker. Look at the size of that. I

will drop a couple of balls in. Into the breeze, look at it. I dare

not drop in there. Unbelievable. So, a scary tee shot. On the left side

of the fairway, there is something else. If you endeavour to miss the

right hand bunkers, you trickled down the left side. And, what you

cannot see from the tee, a greedy bunker. If you miss the fairway,

you are in trouble. Right, terrible. On the left, a sneaky one. What a

right. Not him play unless you completely miss it. Ernie Els using

into the bunker in the first round in 2003. Or 1993. He took a triple

bogey. Today, no problem playing down wind off the tee. 495 yards

par four. They will drive it up to the narrow neck here and turn

slightly left. It is not a big green. Not a big target. They will

there is another one. It is hard to hit something that far off line

you can get the club on the back of youngsters want to look at it, they

can see it on the internet. It was would be a big birthday present for

the Brit if he were to win this Donald. Absolutely magic. There

will not be many better than that today. Playing alongside Sergio

Sergio Garcia. He has been finding form in the past six months.

Ishikawa going with the five-iron. 240 yards down wind. The same club

as Luke Donald hit. Just a little bit quick, that swing. He got the

club behind him and left it out to the right. He has not have the best

year when you consider how well he has played. He has had a couple of

seconds or a third. And he has winner on the PGA Tour. He had a

Sometimes, when it is breezy, not spinning the ball is an advantage.

This is Garcia. He has a big shoulder turn. He drops the club

inside. Through the ball. Looking at the target. It is breathtaking.

He was trying to hit that one a little bit higher so he could land

There is a strict par of 70. Anybody scoring under 70 will be

he had at the back of the last. It is very difficult to get the blade

on the golf ball. Coming from the left is really a tough shot. That

was brilliant. That was a fantastic shot. This is such a different test

from the US Open, where it was a mat the pin. On this course, you

are not even aiming at the pin. Where do I miss if I can get down

in two. And making bogeys from know where in conditions like this, but

you have to be patient. You have to roll with the punches. It is not

easy to do, sometimes. He will be feeling more settled now that he

has one of those Major championships under his belt. That

was a second shot for Rickie Fowler. A good example of how you have to

laugh land the ball. That was not bad. Not a difficult up and down

from there. Nickel Roy and Rickie Fowler played together at the

Masters. -- Rory McIlroy. I am excited about Jason Day. He has

finished second in the past two Majors. We have a few good players

tee, the easier it is to come into the green. Still having to contend

with this slope one to the green. He can see what he's aiming at.

not quite a carry that far enough. A little further right and it would

have gone off the green. Phil Parkin, the breeze out there today,

as strong as recent days? It is very close. Maybe not quite. 20 mph

the last couple of days. Probably about 18. Still at testing golf

course. -- eight testing golf course. Garcia looking a little bit

more comfortable with himself. has not really gone for crazy shot.

He has played it safe. He is using his head. Which you need to do.

does ride the emotional roller- coaster at times. He is very hard

on himself. He has a pretty impressive Major record without

Especially after missing the short one on nine. The game does that to

you. Ishikawa what a birdie putt on three. -- with a birdie putt. This

young man is donating all of his prize money in 2011 per the

earthquake fond in Japan. -- to the earthquake in Japan. What a great

gesture. A saw him during his practice. He had a very loud green

jacket on. He looked every bit her superstar. Almost a film star. He

is the only golfer in the world who brings the crowd with him.

Japanese have always been like that. The media that followed the players

around the word is quite incredible. has had a great season. John Daly

on the first. Yes! He has got his rain hands on today. -- rain

trousers. You cannot tell what kind of trousers he has got on. I think

it is amazing that McIlroy has managed to turn this 4th hole into

it birdie opportunity after where went out. He has taken a fairway

see a lot of players put him things -- it easier to get out of the

heavy rough and carry the ball through the air. They put in the

driving irons. Rory McIlroy is one -- is the only member of this group

carrying a 2-iron. Jamming that Potter into his tummy. Well done

Ernie. He has had some trials and tribulations on the greens lately.

It has been a frustrating time. Maybe these links can bring that

outfits as the week progresses. Unless it stays as cold as it is

17th attempt at winning the Open. That is a good look at the 5th hole.

We will have a look at it. In the practice rounds it was almost

straight off the tee hard left to right. It will be more difficult

getting into the fairway to avoid the bunkers. If you're not in the

perfect position, he will not get a view of the flag. When you get

through there, it is quite open. Not a lot of problems around the

fairway. He has to try to get the ball on that little ledge. Very

difficult. Especially in this that swing. Consequently he has let

it right on the wind and missed the people are or celebrated. Rickie

Fowler has still not won on the American Tour yet. He played the

American Tour last year as a rookie. Very quick to put them in the

superstar status. This guy has reached that status now. He is the

future. Links golf! You never say good shot until you see the ball

almost stopped. -- stop. Certainly third. The world number one golfer.

When her last week at the Barclays Scottish Open. He is in a rich vein

of form. You might think we're in a peculiar spot. We have found

ourselves in a blowing garden. It is a beautiful house. Beautiful

garden. It belongs to these two. If we turn-around, you can see the

fourth green. They have just had a great view of Rory McIlroy. The

world number one is approaching. If you do not mind, I might join you

for a few minutes. Lovely. Back to Donald is well back. In perfect

position. Missed the cut in 2003. So did the Westwood. It will be

interesting to see how they go this pin is obviously in as little

awkward position. A few short putts missed. Yes, it is a very busy

green, the 9th. He is a big surface. -- it is a big surface. Birdie

chance for Mark Calcavecchia. going well, the old fellow. He has

bowled playing quite nicely on the Champions Tour in America. -- he

has been playing. Very competitive. He would have to landed short of

the green. Or into the upslope. How about that? Almost landed it into a

perfect spot on the third. And now of shots. It is by far the best way

of playing golf. Next to play his Ishikawa. He has had some awkward

shot on the second from it G8 yards -- 88. He is certainly finding out

what links golf is all about. This is from 155 yards. It looked like

he hit that thinly. He got lucky. It hit the stand for the camera and

came back. His swing is so quick. So different from a look at Donald.

under. After a huge tee shot from Garcia. Just 144 yards remains. He

does not want to get too much spin has no sight of the green what so

where there. He has been up the hill to try to get his line. He has

been fortunate. He has a good live out here. The rough can sit down,

but it is not too bad here -- he has a good lie. You get a feeling

of a little more space. And from almost the first time, a bit of

room to work with. The flag is decent shot, but it landed softly.

Still, a straightforward shot up the green. 208 yards for Rory

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

these players on just about every shot. The first four holes are

generally down wind, and usually you would think that would help,

but it has been testing. Garcia thought he had hit a great shot.

Just a fraction of rain overnight has put a little bit of doubt in a

couple of players minds about how it will release. That quarter out

Garcia. He still has this for a ball going, rolling past the hole.

One of those putts we have seen Sergio Garcia struggling with for

quite a while. Although, the new grip he uses has improved things a

green, this is the spot to miss it on. Basically chipping up and

that is how you swing a golf club. His body was a little bit on top of

it, trying to keep the ball a downslope because we have seen a

few putts well out. They look as if they will stop near the hole and

of Ernie Els. He pitched up from the front of the green short on the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

Garcia. He got a perfect tee shot. I believe you were out there

earlier in the week, Ken Brown. The 5th tee shot is a positional

shot unless there it is a breeze. You are trying to hit up to 260

yards off the tee from this little plateau, which is 20 yards wide. If

you go to the left you will find the bunker. Down the right, it is

easy to topple off the right side. From there, you go out of position.

If you get in the ideal spot, you can see between the mounds and the

flag behind the TV tower. It helps to judge the distance. This tee

shot, a long iron, trying to find a plateau, and if you miss it, you

sun was shining. How things have birdie away so far. Can Luke Donald

too bad down there. You have to rely on the TV tower to pick your

Whatever you do, the camera follows few swings we have seen from Ryo

Ishikawa, it is very quick. second shot on the last hole was

very quick. And the tee shot on the three was one of the worst shots I

first and the arms and club get stuck behind and it is difficult to

shot that did not release a bit more towards the edge of the green.

What is going on? A wood. A an aggressive shot. It is a long

second shot. Garcia decided to get aggressive off the tee. How good is

cracking up and down and that will settle him. Just moving into his

stride. That will make him breathe up the other side and back into a

been over a couple of weeks. One of the Japanese players asked why they

did not play the Open Championship in the summer! A beautiful tap in

there from Thomas. 4-under par. I remember his demise on the 16th in

a fraction. That is slightly helping Rickie Fowler who has a 7-

iron to. It is a greedy bunker to The greens are -- the green is at

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

an angle to the players. Rory using 8th. Played it perfectly. A few

grains of sand in the eyes. Difficult bunker to get up and down

to be avoided at all costs. Three cracking shot. -- shot. We have

found another nice spot on the course. Many people have come up

here to watch a few holes. The 6th green is down here behind these

hordes of supporters. This is McIlroy, Ernie Els and Rickie

Fowler. Some good tee shot on six. Let's bring you up to date with the

leaderboard as it stands at the moment. Thomas Bjorn his top of the

tree at the moment. It unravelled for him in 2003. He is a shot clear

of Mark Calcavecchia. Former Open champion. Nine players currently on

1-under. Including Stewart Cink, of the 2009 champion. Four English men

first hole has taken him to 1-under. Only 11 players under-par. It is

interactive coverage. You can watch the 14th, 15th and 16th holes on

the red button. Mark Calcavecchia is currently on the 16th. Let's

Calcavecchia is rolling along nicely. Mark James is back in the

box. Yes, making good progress, all of these groups. A lot have not

played too many holes. I didn't think there will be more than a

handful of players under-par at the that he start to get an official

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

not hit it. Apparently card. Just the one dropped shot on the 5th. --

par on the card. Luke Donald needed a 3-iron to give himself this

about keeping yourself in there. Level par today would be a good

the 5th green. Wonderful amphitheatre. You can see the

spectators on the banks and the hills. Good viewing position.

sand dunes on this course are perfect for reviewing. -- viewing.

Pretty good stroke. You always hold your breath when he is over that

distance. He has been a bit dodgy for a while. I think he is finding

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

misjudgment. Jimenez on nine for a There is a links swing. Rattled in

there. Might be off the edge. Good to see him back here after his drop

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

files in 2003 when the lead. -- rhythm. Not too bad. A little chip

and run. That should be relatively The wind is coming from right to

left. It is a funny little green with some belt-tightening in the

middle. The pin just on the back level. This is the first time these

players have sheet -- have hit a shot from the right to the left

today. Most of the banks of these bunkers are not too bad. The sand

is not flattened right into the bank's. -- banks. The wind is

blowing hard and the contours on the sand can change. Still giving

all of his earnings this year to the Japanese earthquake relief fund.

Wonderful gesture. He is winning quite a lot of money as well.

Rickie Fowler is looking pretty looks pleased. A long way to get

even to the start of the fairway in this practice round. -- the

get a good as far as his playing partners. -- not getting it as far.

Early turn. Simple position at the top. Late move first, drive, opera

body is always just a fraction McIlroy pushing up above 300.

McIlroy is very long. Fire, too. -- replacement in the field. That was

the 6th. He needed to hit that hard enough to reach the hole and that

was always going to be the difficult part. Pretty good from

there, hitting it that hard and they have somebody to rake the

bunker. It is usually the caddy's job. And generally, they are very

poor at it. That was sitting down a little bit for Luke Donald. I think

the lie had something to do with that. I expected the best chipper

in the world to get it a little sound here. I saw the guys

practising yesterday and they were doing what they wanted with the

ball and getting the right amount of spin and the right strike. The

quality of sand is second to none. the last two holes and he has to do

money for the Japanese disaster for a new hat! Are you suggesting it

looks a little bit worn! It is the style. I am told. Bogey for him. 3-

over. He has won about $600,000 this year and it is going to that

great cause. Thomas Bjorn tidying birdie opportunities today. He

missed that little putt at four. are absolutely perfect. They say

that on the record, but they have been saying it off the record, as

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

well. That is a big one, going into shot. It should not be too much of

a problem unless he has got unlucky with the line. Back to Donald.

dear. He does not get up and down. Back to level par. Birdie at three

and bogey at six. But still in this green and acting as if he

pushed it a little. There might be a route between the bunkers, but it

It is called Theodore. That is Ernie Els' real name. We saw the

ball of Ernie Els going in there. It might be near the steps going

down into the sand and Ken has been looking at the Features.

What fabulous bunkers they have here at Royal St George's. They are

nice to play out of. A feature of them his steps to get into. They

can be a problem, sometimes. What do you do from there? Well, David,

I do not want to play that. I think you cannot play that. This step

itself cannot be moved. It is a obstruction that means you are

entitled to free relief. But you are having to stay in the bunker

and you are not allowed to go nearer to the hole. There is

nowhere for you to go because of where we are in relation to the

flag stick. That option does not exist. If I did have that option,

would it be a free drop? Because I can't, what is much option? Rule 24

gives you an additional option to keep the point where the ball lies

directly in line with the flag, we drop it outside the bunker.

unusually, you could take a penalty drop and take the ball out of the

bunker. That is what you do if you get up against the steps in an

is lying in there. We will find out. Not the most unkind bunker shot. He

might have a passage between the bunkers. You can see Rickie Fowler

on the right. He has to come over up for Rickie Fowler and he is very

good at keeping the golf ball down below the wind. That was an

exquisite touch from the American. What sort of lie do we have for

Ernie Els? Does Rory McIlroy have a route through between the bunkers?

He had his choice. And that had a look in on the way past. Ernie Els

is not lying too badly. I love the way you said it would not be too

difficult. The real thing in his favour is that he is into the wind.

He can therefore be more aggressive. He has to decide whether to land it

on the green and try to get the spin, or land it short and let the

a lot for the wind and the slope, so it cannot be that

very good. Very quick down that out of the sand. Gary Player was a

Open Championship. He has played in down the middle. He needs a good

pitch it in there. A lot can go wrong. He has a late replacement

birdie. This is one of the flatter greens on the course. He has had a

couple of putt this length and he has not managed yet to hit the hole.

He is using a different routine. When he uses the short putter, he

is moving his feet into position first. He used to put the club head

behind the ball and then the feet. I think it is to keep the club head

attached to his stomach. That will make it harder to line up the

putter. We will see how that goes on. Talking about routines, Rory

McIlroy changing his routine. They quicker routine after the Masters.

Know practise strokes. -- no practise strokes. He played cricket

at the Masters. Since then he has taken away some of his practice

strokes -- he played quickly. without a three putt. Did he have

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

first part of the fairway, then the ribbons of pathways that route

people through the least environmentally sensitive areas,

areas that often need trampling down to encourage different species

of grass. And those that need a long way to go. There is a long

way back to the tee on the 8. The wind today crosses from the right-

from the sea. Two bunkers on the right-hand side. 281 and 289 to

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

those. 330 to the end of the Bjorn. He is playing beautifully.

has he got her rescue club? He has, Maureen. I was wondering about the

sense of carrying these rescues. But this boy can hit the ball low.

I wonder if Rory McIlroy will hit his little 19 degree driver. You

just want to get it on to the top level of the fervour. -- fairway.

This will be the 5-wood. They all look quite small clubs in his hands.

Quite difficult to tell. He will just caress it. He has failed to

cut it. Nearly got Maureen! He is not going to like wet that has gone.

It has bounced into some juicy stuff. Thick pockets of rough

around St George's. You can get some spindly stuff or deeper stuff.

This is the little driving iron. hit it first second on the last. He

was never going to make the green for -- with it. That is a perfect

position. He has hit at that a long way. -- he has hit that. Luke

Donald's third shot on the 7th. Right over the flag. Garcia in some

trouble on the 7th. A long bunker shot. What a shot that was.

Absolutely beautiful. Unlucky to Fitzgerald was getting a lot of

criticism after the Masters. Danny Willett. In the first group out. A

good round of golf for the man from Sheffield. Thomas Bjorn and 14 with

Calcavecchia, brilliant performance. Danny where it will be in his digs

and a couple of hours. -- Danny the end of the day, that is for

certain. A lot of good golf today so far. The field is spreading out.

Anybody not playing well is Donald. Yes! He rattles it home.

That was going some distance. Bogey cup. Calcavecchia at 18. Not an

to play the second shot into a -- into eight. He has got 195 yards.

25 yards of hidden ground between him and the start of the green. He

cannot see any of it. Wonderful bunkers around this green. That

roar of Luke Donald hole in the putt at the last was the first we

have heard of this Championship. The graphics not representative of

not to hook a little more when it landed. A tricky putt of that mound.

-- over that mound. Any has not got a great lie. He has got 50 to 60

yards of rough between him and the green. I think it is a case of

putting himself in position for an easy angle for his third. An

expensive per week off the tee here for him potentially. -- tweak.

feet further down the rough. rough here is very patchy. You can

very lucky just Mac you can be like this. -- or you can be like this.

Yes, for all the talk of the thin the rough here at St George's,

there is still some nasty stuff. The wind may have dropped on him a

little. A huge amount of effect on the ball. Back to cut it back here.

-- Calcavecchia. Very nearly a great shot. Just crept over the

bunker. Ernie still trying to get the ball out. That was not one

thing or another. He has hit it into that broken ground between the

fairway and the green. He will need to rely on the life. -- lie.

Perfect place, centre of the fairway. He is 170 yards from the

green. The wind gusting up the club and he has just gone down the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

McIlroy, second round so not so. Finished third last year. Back to

Thomas Bjorn. Gary Evans is out there. He knows about the Open

Championship from Muirfield in 2002. Thomas Bjorn going very well?

he has obviously found a little bit of form. Putting well. Loads of

This is wonderful. Thomas Bjorn doing very nicely. Another birdie

chance for him on 15. Currently the leader on 4-under par. Bjorn

currently on 50, which is about -- 15. Here is the 16th green. There

used to be a bunker here. It was taken away. The one you can see to

the left is known as Bjorn's bunker. That is probably at the back of his

mind. This is the first time he has played here maxims this happened in

2003. -- since this happened. He was leading the Open with three

holes remaining. Three shots in the bunker. He eventually finished with

that double bogey five. It left him one shot behind the leader, Ben

Curtis, who went on to win. Fantastic third shot, but if too

little, too late. He has not been too keen to talk about what

happened at 16 in the build up. A par here would keep his golf round

going along very nicely indeed. perhaps. -- Mark Calcavecchia. A

dropped shot at the last. Still, a round of 69 is very impressive. A

couple of blemishes. We look down at this vast piece of golfing

terrain. They could stretch this course out to 10,000 yards if they

wanted to. I'm sure the afternoon players are saying, well said

Andrew Cotter, let's make it longer and tougher! The late starters may

get the best of it. The reeled switchback of a port facing Rickie

Fowler. -- a real switchback of a putt. The higher you go, there were

a speed it will gather of the slope. -- the more speed. Certainly the

getting any easier. Stewart Cink is going along very nicely. Almost the

forgotten man of Chaabi chip golf. He will not be forgotten if he

keeps doing that. -- Championship example of have shots can disappear

this that some frustration might creep then. That is more like it.

He needed a little boost. So far, he is keeping quite calm, which he

looks as though he does a bit of painting and decorating in his

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

spare time. Probably a very putt at the 9th, but since then,

extremely sound on the green. Looking down the 9th hole here at

Royal St George's, Ken Brown had a To the 9th tee, an uphill climb.

And a long extent of the fairway. A new 9th tee, slightly altered from

the last time we were here. The old tee was down on the right, an

unusual shape, and you played the hole from a slightly different

angle. The tee has gone back 37 yards and the hole is playing a

little straighter. You used to play across the fairway and now you are

going down almost the whole length of it. 412 yards, so a good bit

longer and it will need add bit more club off the tee and a

slightly different angle of attack to the hole. Whenever I think of

John Betjeman, I think of the seaside and the Golf, and it really

at this fairway and there are a lot of uneven lies down there. Not a

very wide target, but he has found while there and I don't think I

beautifully. It certainly is a thinking golfer's day. You cannot

attack attack today. You have to metal chimney in the distance. He

cameraman, this blue and white and race five. Difficult to pick up the

fellow. A very unusual swing. We saw him at the Walker Cup, we

admired how he struck the ball but it is an unusual action. Miguel

Angel Jimenez, going along very dropped Ashoka -- stroke, a

remarkable round he is putting up for all the pain of those three

shots out of the bunker. That is a them today. Did you know there are

people who have been playing this game for years? Jimmy Moyes from

Sundridge golf club, 100 years old. Still enjoying it. You can't play

much would be when you are 100. It He is going along very nicely.

EVANS: He is indeed, wonderful shot, managed to avoid the bunker on the

some very good round. Not quite as consistent as it would appear he

can be, but he is a which jumpy, When it comes to the weather and

enough with his irons and to give himself a chance, but some good

left of this tricky 8th green. The pin is tucked adjacent to it. A

slightly uphill, but there is not its huge amount of break on this

one. Looks to have the ball under Two in the last three holes. That

was extraordinary, it looked as though it would miss one way, then

it swung another, then it up like it would going. Then at the end of

it all, it missed. -- then it mockery of the course. Amazing back

on Monday, he didn't know if he was playing, because he was a first

reserve and got in when Vijay Singh pulled out. Such is life, the luck

of the draw. At moment of good fortune can change your life. -- a

moment. Ernie Els needs a bit to change his life at the moment. He

has been a bit wayward. MAUREEN MADILL: he is not getting the rub

of the green. He has a dusty lie here. Coming in from the right hand

side, he doesn't have any vision of what is facing him. This green can

is not too bad. Big bunker on the left and the pin is tucked behind a

bank, so awkward to get at. Another flag stuck on the front. There is a

sadistic streak in whoever said the somewhere on the 9th. Playing into

the wind, almost directly. Probably kick out. About an inch down the

shaft, a little three quarter poked forward. I have noticed a few of

them doing that. Rory McIlroy of was doing that. Laura Davies used

to play every shot well down the difficult to hole but the club. He

keeps the club above the ground -- hover at the club. But that is

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

And the course has dropped par. Simon Dyson and 17. -- on 17.

Beautiful tee shot. Had a lot of trouble in the previous Open

finding this fairway. This has probably been modelled more than

the edge. It will be OK as long as he puts that one in. Three players

from Northern Ireland playing this week. Rory Macca right, Darren

Clarke and Graeme McDowell. -- Rory McIlroy. First such a small country

it is producing wonderful players. Jimenez is playing a tremendous

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

of 18 inches. -- has to come up a Number nine currently is the second

hardest hole. It has just given away three birdies so far. Very

for him to hole. Nothing has really gone for him so far. It is very

tricky. Slippery left to right. very good. -- very good. There is

the score card. Not the best of starts. Three from the back edge of

playing of the Open Championship. - - 140th. Ricky fiery and Rory

McIlroy old adversaries, having played each what are in the Walker

Cup. -- other. The featured group just finished the front nine. Lot

of top before his tee off this morning about Rory McIlroy. We have

repositioned ourselves just beside the practise green here. Just

behind us, the famous hots. The first man to tee off this morning

was Jerry Kelly. It has been tough out there but with a little form a

leaderboard. Thomas Bjorn going along nicely. Currently three shots

clear. Four birdies in his last five holes. A birdie on 16 were it

all unravelled here in 2003. -- green is the BBC studio were a

lovely Hazel will be joining us through till 8pm tonight. Just

getting a little bit of the boys doing their practice putting before

they head out. I have just seen at Darren Clarke. Of lot of attention

this morning on Rory McIlroy. cracking four balls to look forward

to this afternoon? Yes indeed. Graeme McDowell playing alongside

Jason day and Bubba Watson. Lee Westwood, Steve Stricker and Charl

Schwartzel. 11 minutes later, the defending champion, Louis

Oosthuizen is out there with Martin Kaymer and Phil Mickelson. A lot to

look forward to. Maybe we could join them! Graeme McDonald at --

Graeme McDowell has been tweaking this morning. He played a few holes

with John Daly yesterday. He is off shortly. So if you are still there

blowing quite stiffly. It is OK. Just. Puzzled Bjorn. You do not get

green. Garcia. But first, Jimenez. Drifting away. That is OK. He is

putting a beautiful round together. If he makes par from here on, he

will be a very happy Spaniard. green and Thomas Bjorn. This is

some round of golf. On an extremely testing day. There will not be many

people who believe it if he finishes with a 64. Quite

remarkable. I remember Gary Player same years ago they did you cover

the course with lumps of coal, somebody would find a way of

getting around with a 64 or 65. That drifted on the wind.

awkward one left from there. Nice forget the power of this course. 70

is quite brutal. I am still counting in old money. I think 72

would be a very good score. All the more remarkable if Thomas Bjorn can

finish on 64. Looking down the 9th hole. Ken will tell us about this.

Down wind? Let us have a look. Bunker down the left side. At

generous fairway. -- very generous there were. You drive down the

right. The breeze behind, you have the fairway, Rickie Fowler and

Ernie Els. The flag is on the left today. McEnroe will have two very

stout bunkers acting as a defence. -- McIlroy. This has a lot of knew

once as that make it very difficult. Even when you are on the green.

They are not flat greens. Very subtle. Such a lot to take into

account. Every shot. How well the wind effect you? Where would

bounce? Word why not want to go? -- where do I not want to go! This is

a difficult putt. Slopes away on the last 15 feet. Uphill at the

beginning. How about at that for judgment? Magical putt. It would

have been so easy to Chamakh on the hill and come up 6 ft short. -- to

jam it. Just what you expect from the world number one, neat and tidy.

You do not have to be a crash, bang, wallop merchant to put some very

good scores together. Going along nicely. Since last year, he has

played 24 events and finished in the top 1018 times. That is

consistency. -- he as finished in certainly is not. Just waiting down

the fairway for this group to move away. Ben Curtis, who won here. He

was a surprise when or nine years ago. He has played some decent golf

at times since then but has not really taken the golfing world by

storm. He is still a champion. You're going the wrong way!

Hopefully Garcia will be going the correct way if he putt this one. A

wonderful seven-iron to here. Controlled it to perfection.

Superb! One of the very rare birdies at the 9th. A satisfied

Sergio Garcia. Good score. 35. Those little badges are the

alarm bells should be ringing back here in this three ball, because

they have just stood and watched, looking up at the skyline green,

the group ahead, every one of them have missed short putts. Els with

95 yards to go. The flag captain on the left-hand side, plenty of room

on the right for -- tucked in. Where do they have demanded, do you

think? I'm below the level of the green, I couldn't get into position.

It has got to be right half of galloping on. Look at the pace on

He has done just that. -- is a result of. He appears to have had a

lifetime's education since the mistakes at Augusta. That is the

name of the game with golf. It is this hole the last of the

Championship was played here. They have probably spent more time on

this than anywhere, just widened it putts for birdies inside 15 feet

here, you are always 25, 30 feet here. And it is so easy to three

putt when it is windy and the I think he has got away with that,

played well for a couple of years now. -- Peter Hanson. He just up to

his putting standards. He was always a very sound striker, but he

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

has recently started to hole a few had a couple of practice rounds

with his dad. Didn't arrive until players are coming in the early. It

is such a tiring week, you cannot marshal with the red flag. A huge

exposed green, the 10th. At the top the back of the first green from

played some good golf since the dropped shots in the first three

area. One to the south, and won just up and across a bit. All of

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

them have staged Open championships some great stuff. Nice to see him

finished on the top in the middle waiting for five minutes and it has

just started raining. Stay up. Almost down in Sandy Lyle country.

Not too bad, though. I get seasick just looking up that. And -- there

miss the greens here, don't have to do much wrong. There is a bunker on

the right and the wind is wafting you that way. Simon always looks

busy. He is like the wee brown dog, always in a hurry. Led by his nose.

"there must be something better are not that long in length for all

of the players, but so much thought has to go in two even how to play -

- in two Howard to play it. Her -- so much thought has to go into how

to play it. You have to somehow how he plays this. All sorts of

spots he can land it in. He has to bring it in a little from this side

because the ball will kick to the left. He always plays these very

playing with your chums, you could take a six-iron and bump it up the

hill. Six-times out of 10, you would get it within six or seven

it has worked out beautifully. He says he practices a lot. It

certainly pays dividends. Just magical. He decided to carry it a

bit further because he didn't want a shot... I speak too soon. He has

escaped again. He has not dropped a stroke yet. That will be a par five

that the dreaded 14th hole. -- At. Runs right alongside Princes Golf

rain, if you do try and go with a low spinning shot, the first bounce

can severely skid, so you have to be careful of that. He will have to

do the same landing into the upslope and release just a little.

12 feet past the pin, the green runs away from you, so you have to

fraction too hard. And the way it Garcia from 70 or 80 yards, but he

it looks like it is snowing. Watch how still he keeps everything.

Minimal half action, cock of the wrist. Holding the angle and just

dropping the club on the back of the ball. Just superb. It was the

perfect contact. Beautiful. Notice he was using and interlocking grip.

That is becoming more fashionable, over the last few years. Very few

players use do interlock their fingers. -- used to. Tony Jacklin

started doing it and a number of players over the years have started.

Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. take my hat off to them. All kept

under control by a bit of string down the side of the fairway.