Perhaps Ian Poulter's wrist injury is bothering him more than he let on.

The Englishman, who was only passed fit earlier this week, is three over after six following bogeys on two, three and five. It doesn't look as though this is going to Poulter's week to break his duck in a major.

Image source, Reuters

Tiger Woods has some work to do after going through the front nine one-over par. The American has settled down after a terrible start saw him suffer two bogeys in the first two holes.

McIlroy is safely in for par on the seventh and stays as joint leader on three under. Links golf hasn't been the Irishman's forte in the past but he is enjoying himself out on the course at the moment. It has to be said though. the weather conditions could not be better fir playing this course.

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Legendary BBC commentator Peter Alliss and former European Ryder Cup captain Mark James commentating for BBC TV by the 18th Green. There's blazing sunshine out on the course but no fear of these two getting a tan, with just a few rays of light breaking through into the dark box which will be their home for the next four days.

4th (Road)

Par four, 372 yards

Image source, Getty Images

The shortest par four on the course bur don't expect an easy time. Three newly situated bunkers will swallow any wayward drives, with players looking to stay left on a narrow fairway to open up the green. Birdie opportunities should be common.

2006 difficulty rating: 11

Unbelievable stuff from Australian Matt Jones. as he chips in from the bunker to finish his round with an eagle.

Jones was four over after three holes but has recovered startlingly well.

Co-leader Robert Karlsson reacts to his round on BBC One: "It was nice. A beautiful morning out there. The greens were rolling beautifully and absolutely no wind. I'm very happy I have my wife here and I could get her up at 4am this morning. I think it's the first time in a long time I've been up in July and it has been dark."

Karlsson is the clubhouse leader after a first round 69 leaves him three under.

Tom Fordyce
Chief sports writer at Hoylake

"It may be six years since Wood's last major, but the Tiger Hunt is in full effect around the baking expanses of Royal Liverpool: the largest media pack, the biggest cheers, the longest applause - at least until Rory McIlroy's trio comes through two groups later."

Rory McIlroy admits his failure to back up a low first-round score with a solid second is "getting into his head".

Last week, he shot a course-record 64 on day one of the Scottish Open only to follow it up with a 78.

"I have no problem shooting a low one on Thursdays, so there should be no reason I have any problem shooting a low one on Fridays," he said. "I need to go out and pretend like it's a Thursday again."

He is currently three under through six in a share for the lead.

And now it's six in a share of the lead. Rory McIlroy finds the centre of the green on the sixth and rolls home his putt from five feet for birdie to move to three under.

Image source, Reuters

Jim Furyk makes a birdie four on the 10th to join the leaders.

Italian Matteo Manassero birdies the 11th to join Sergio Garcia, Rickie Fowler and Robert Karlsson in the lead on three under. He has made the perfect start to the back nine, picking up shots on both 10 and 11.

-3: Sergio Garcia (Spa), Rickie Fowler (US), Robert Karlsson (Swe), Matteo Manassero (Ita); -2: Marc Leishman (Aus), Brooks Koepka (US), Edoardo Molinari (Ita), Branden Grace (SA), Jim Furyk (US), Rory McIlroy (NI)

Selected others:-1: Stewart Cink (US), Thomas Bjorn (Den); Par: Luke Donald (Eng), Padraig Harrington (Ire), Graeme McDowell (NI); +1: Tiger Woods; +3: Ian Poulter

Full leaderboard; , externalClubhouse scores;Tee times

BBC Radio 5 live

Clare Balding on Radio 5 live: "John Singleton is 30 years old and works in a resin factory. He was given the day off to qualify for the Open and here he is. Unbelievable story and he has started off with a par on the first."

You can watch Tiger Woods's dodgy start and Ken Brown's guide to hole four by clicking on the Highlights tab at the top of the page.

Factory worker John Singleton probably didn't think he would ever be able to say this but at the moment he is ahead of Tiger Woods in the Open.

OK, the golfer from Birkenhead may only have played one hole but a steady par shows he has the bottle for the biggest test of his life. Woods is one shot further back through seven.

Mark Davis:, external It's Kaymer's year this year, German Efficiency!!

Matt Bunch:, external Great start from Rickie Fowler. I truly believe this is his time to breakthrough.

Martyn Till:, external Come on Sergio. Think he is finally going to win a major.

Have your say on who will win this year's Open Championship by tweeting #bbcgolf, on Facebook, external or text 81111.

Conservative stuff from Sergio Garcia as he continues to take irons from the tee rather than gambling with the bunkers further down the fairway. It's working for him at the moment though as he shares the lead on three under through eight.

Robert Karlsson is the clubhouse leader on three under. He was inches away from taking the outright lead with a 10 foot putt on the 18th but will be more than happy with his morning's work after four birdies on the back nine.