The Open 2016: Mixed fortunes for the Scots on day one

Montgomerie was in trouble in a first hole bunker

Colin Montgomerie recovered from a nightmare start to post an even-par opening round at The Open that rekindled memories of past glories.

The 53-year-old finished the first round as top Scot despite a double-bogey six at Royal Troon's first hole.

Russell Knox and Paul Lawrie both shot 72 to leave them one over par, while Richie Ramsay recovered from illness to card a two over par 73.

Marc Warren is six over par after a 77 while Sandy Lyle posted a miserable 85.

Montgomerie - an eight-time European Order of Merit winner - had the honour of hitting the opening tee shot of the championship on his home course.

But the 367 yard par four did not go to plan, as he hit his second shot into a green-side bunker.

"The first shot was okay. Trouble is, the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth weren't so good," joked the Scot.

"It buried in the face of it and no-one in the field would have got that ball out unfortunately," he told BBC Sport.

"I couldn't get it out and the second fell right into my footprint and my footprint's deeper than most, so that was no good.

"One of the best shots I have hit in my life was the fourth shot out of the bunker at the first away from the hole."

Montgomerie recovered his poise with five birdies in seven holes.

European Ryder Cup vice-captain Lawrie was left ruing poor putting form in a round that contained two birdies and three bogeys.

A bonus for the Aberdonian was holing out in two at Royal Troon's challenging Postage Stamp eighth.

"I hit a little nine iron in there," Lawrie told BBC Scotland. "Hit it close to about five or six feet - a lovely shot just below the hole and rolled it in.

"It was one of the few putts that I actually made. I played nicely today but struggled on the greens."

It was a rollercoaster round for Knox, with one eagle and three birdies but two bogeys and two double bogeys.

"It was a weird day," the Inverness-born player told BBC Scotland.

"I had some extremely bad luck and every time I hit a poor shot I got severely punished.

"To hole a wedge shot (at the 16th) was obviously a nice piece of fortune but to go eagle, double bogey is a tough break and I need to do better than that."

1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie opened with a round of 72

A stomach illness brought any hopes of Ramsay having a practice round on Tuesday or Wednesday crashing to the ground, but the Aberdonian's sickness eased in time for him to take part.

"I was just throwing up all the time," said Ramsay. "But I feel miles better now. I honestly don't know what it was.

"I had a good attitude today and played lovely - a lot of shots down the target line but just didn't make anything."

East Kilbride golfer Warren started with a birdie at the first hole but four bogeys and a double bogey on the back nine hampered his hopes of Open success.

Ten bogeys and two double bogeys obliterated Lyle's card, but the 1985 Open champion did manage a birdie at the fifth.