Long John Daly bogeys the last for a 77, five over par, and on that note, I'm off. See you tomorrow...

This is the leaderboard as it stands with just a few players left out on the course - and you can follow the Open's own leaderboard, external to see how they get on as we say goodbye...

Selected others: Rickie Fowler (US), Tiger Woods (US), Jason Dufner (US), Shane Lowry (Ire); -2: Louis Oosthuizen (SA); -1: Stewart Cink (US), Hunter Mahan (US), Lee Westwood (Eng)

Par: David Howell (Eng), Darren Clarke (NI), Henrik Stenson (Swe), Zach Johnson (US), Justin Rose (Eng)

+1: Martin Kaymer (Ger), Ian Poulter (Eng), Luke Donald (Eng), Phil Mickelson (US); +2: Paul Casey (Eng), Graeme McDowell (NI); +4 Bubba Watson (US); +7 Ernie Els (SA)

What news of the weather at Hoylake tomorrow? Well, it's set to be thundery and rainy and windy in the morning and take-your-face-off hot in the early evening. The first group go out at 0625 BST, defending champion Phil Mickelson is out at 0904, world number one Adam Scott and in-form Englishman Justin Rose at 9.26, while most of the leaders are out in the afternoon, which means they could get the best of the weather again.

A fine day for Italian golf, with Matteo Manassero one off the lead after a round of 67 and the Molinari brothers, Edoardo and Francesco, tied for third on four under. They're the only three Italians in the field, and no Italian has ever won the Claret Jug. Indeed, if you roll the home nations into one, only 11 different countries have won the Open.

Image source, Getty Images

Lee Westwood speaking to BBC Sport after his opening round of 71: "It was pretty good. In the afternoon the wind picked up but the 71 was OK. There were chances to shoot a low score. The course was favourable and if you hit it well there were chances for birdies.

"I'd like to be hitting the ball a bit better, I still don't feel I hit it good but I managed my game well today. If it gets windier like we know it can then experience will play a part."

Oliver Fisher of England is one of the last few players out there and he's just moved to two under after a birdie at 16. Not so good for namesake Ross, who is three over after 17.

Mark James
Former Ryder Cup captain on BBC TV

"Rory McIlroy made no mistakes and looked sharp in every department. His chipping was really good and his putting was nice and solid with good pace. It was the full performance.

"It's easy when there's no wind but we'll find out more tomorrow. He's got great rhythm and timing He's so strong too and he hits the ball a huge distance. When he's on he can hit it incredibly straight.

"It was very windy the second day last week so only he knows why he shot 78. He'll be going out tomorrow and if it's windy he'll do something about it because he has to learn a lot from rounds like that.

"I don't see his swing going to pieces under any circumstances, it's more a question of shot choice and how to move the ball around in the air. He'll have had a good look at last week's round and they will have learned from last week. He's got a real shot at this championship now."

Image source, AP

Justin Rose speaking to BBC Sport after carding an even-par round of 72, six behind the leaders Rory McIlroy: "I actually played some good golf. I felt in control through the turn and just ran out of steam from 12 onwards. I was right between clubs a couple of times and the back nine was playing quite tricky into the wind and I didn't play the par fives well.

"It was tougher in the afternoon. I've got a feeling the weather won't go my way but hopefully I can come out and make a score in the morning.

"I haven't been getting off to fast starts but at some point over 72 holes you have a slow period and maybe that's my first round and I can build some momentum."

Mark James
Former Ryder Cup captain on BBC TV

"This morning I was thinking it was going to be absolutely battered. The players had a go this morning but it wasn't battered and it was the players that were battered this afternoon in what was only a one-club wind.

"There will be players in this field that could have hit more drivers and could have scored lower. Tomorrow we'll see a different thing with more wind so it will become a different course."

A weird day really, some ferocious scoring early doors followed by some ordinary scoring later on once the wind got up. Then again, it wasn't much of a wind, only a one-clubber. Most of the leaders went out early, including the wind-shy Rory McIlroy, who leads on six under, and three-time champion Tiger Woods, who is three shots back.

Sorry about that, that was a par for Westwood, not a birdie as stated below. So it was a 71 rather than a 70, which still ain't bad. He's five behind Rory McIlroy.

Decent effort from a long way out by Westwood, he should pop in that four-footer for birdie and a round of 70. Ishikawa of Japan drains a longun at the last for birdie and a round of 74. Bradley pops in for par and a round of 73. Westwood pops in, he's in the mix heading into round two.

Westwood going with three-wood into the 18th, right on target, lollops over the back. Some hit. John Senden leaks a shot on 17, falls back to -1. Westwood is greeted onto the 18th green like a conquering hero and a birdie here would make it a very handy round indeed.

Selected others: Rickie Fowler (US), Tiger Woods (US), Jason Dufner (US), Shane Lowry (Ire); -2: Louis Oosthuizen (SA); -1: Stewart Cink (US), Hunter Mahan (US), Lee Westwood (Eng)

Par: David Howell (Eng), Darren Clarke (NI), Henrik Stenson (Swe), Zach Johnson (US), Justin Rose (Eng)

+1: Martin Kaymer (Ger), Ian Poulter (Eng), Luke Donald (Eng), Phil Mickelson (US); +2: Paul Casey (Eng), Graeme McDowell (NI); +4 Bubba Watson (US); +7 Ernie Els (SA)

Full leaderboard; , externalTee times

Andrew Cotter
BBC Sport commentator

"What a very good looking leaderboard we have here at Hoylake.

"It was a fantastic start by Rory McIlroy, but we have seen that before - most notably at St Andrews in 2010 - but hopefully he can kick on from here.

"In Tiger Woods' grand collection of first rounds at majors, today's would only be so-so, but in the context of where he has come from given his lack of golf this year then 69 is very, very good start.

"Adam Scott has looked impressive this afternoon and is justifying his status as favourite. I was also delighted to see Sergio Garcia playing so well."

Jason Dufner for birdie on 18 - looks like it's going to drop left before ducking right at the last. A 69 for the American, not a dropped shot all day. Justin Rose, winner of his last two tournaments, pars the last for a 72, Scott sweeps in for a 68, two behind leader Rory McIlroy.

18th (Dun)

Par five, 551 yards

Image source, Getty Images

The big hitters can reach the green in two but out-of-bounds lurks all the way down the right-hand side of the fairway and thick rough guards the left. There are now three small bunkers to the left of the green and others eating into the right of the putting surface.

2006 difficulty rating: 15

Lynsey Lupton:, external Loving the views of Hoylake from the helicopter.

John McEnerney:, external Hope Scotty's nerve holds up for these four days. If it does, I can see him near the top come Sunday. This course suits his game!

Darvall77:, external Four days of Ken Brown - Hhs master classes are always worth a watch.

Scott is getting very well acquainted with the rules officials, here he is taking another drop away from a stand. Scott finally on in three, could salvage a par from there. Lowry pars the 15th, stays three under. The Irishman has only played the Open thrice, finishing in the top 40 in 2010 and 2013.

Westwood with an up-hiller on 17, misses just left, stays one under. After an awful lot of toing and froing Scott eventually hits a very sketchy second that comes up short and left of the green. Westwood on 18 and he, too, finds rough. This 18th fairway is proving as elusive as Atlantis. Bradley misses it, too...