Image source, Getty Images

Age: 64 Country: USA

World ranking: N/A

Majors: Masters 2, US Open 1, the Open 5.

Watson has lifted the Claret Jug five times, in 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982 and 1983. The 64-year-old is playing his penultimate Open after being given a special exemption by the R&A (Royal & Ancient) organisers to play at St Andrews in 2015 to mark the 40th anniversary of his maiden appearance in the event and the first of his five wins in golf's oldest major.

Watson teed off at 08:26 BST and is partnered by Darren Clarke and Jim Furyk.

South African Dawie van der Walt makes a mini charge up the leaderboard as he now shares the lead with Edoardo Molinari and Marc Leishman at two under.

The Springbok eagles the par-five fifth before a birdie at seven. The first eagle of the day.

Image source, The Open

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell tweets:, external "Each major has it's special players badge. This is what it's all about at the Open."

Age: 41 Country: USA

World ranking: 159th

Majors: The Open

The American may not have been the most popular winner of the Open at Turnberry in 2009 when he beat five-times winner Tom Watson to an emotional victory aged 59. Cink has a good track record in Majors, including third place in the Masters, US Open and USPGA.

Cink tees off at 08:15 BST with compatriot Patrick Reed and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn.

All David Howell's good early work is undone as he double bogeys the par-four seventh to drop back to level par.

Almost simultaneously, Australian Marc Leishman joins Edorado Molinari on the lead at two-under par, after a birdie at five.

Of the 30 players out on the course, only seven are under par, despite decent conditions for links golf. Plenty of big guns still to come though, so expect that to change.

Adrian Lorenz:, external If Mcllroy can adapt to Hoylake he can win the open! When he gets a charge going there's no stopping him.

Who do you think will win the Open? Send us your views to #bbcgolf.

Image source, The Open

That ladder will be well used this week, particularly if Australian Matt Jones's round is anything to go by. His card is very colourful at four over after four holes.

Here is the current leaderboard: -2: David Howell (Eng), Edoardo Molinari (Ita); -1: Marc Leishman (Aus), Freddie Jacobsen (Swe), Ashley Chesters (A) (Eng), Dawie Van Der Walt (SA).

Image source, Getty Images

Less than a week after winning the British Amateur crown, Scotland's Bradley Neil says the Open is his "best chance" of winning one of the majors.

"The pros don't play much links golf and, while they can adapt, I've had to play these imaginative shots all year," he said.

The 18-year-old tees off at 08:04 BST and certainly doesn't appear to be short on confidence.

2nd (Stand)

Par four, 454 yards

Image source, Getty Images

A new Championship tee has been built to add some 18 yards to the length of the hole. Four old fairway bunkers have been removed from the landing area but the hole still requires an accurate tee shot and a precise approach to another heavily-guarded green.

2006 difficulty rating: 3

The perfect start for Italy's Edoardo Molinari as he birdies the first and second to move into the joint leadership with David Howell.

English Open debutant Ashley Chesters must be wondering what all the fuss is about as he starts the day with a birdie. Hopefully not a false dawn.

Read more about the 24-year-old amateur here.

Chris Stockdale:, external Course and weather favours Americans, Dustin Johnson will destroy the par 5s with his length. Could be his week.

StuDoList:, external Has anyone ever won The Open after hitting the first shot? David Howell warming up nicely.

Stuie Neale:, external Go on David Howell go well for Swindonians!

Who do you think will win the Open and why? Tweet #bbcgolf,, external text 81111 (UK users only), post on BBC Sport Facebook , externalor google +.

Here we go. After a slow start to the day, scores are starting to be made.

Outright lead David Howell makes a third birdie on the spin on the par-five fifth to move to two under.

Five players are one-under par, including Edoardo Molinari after the first.

For all you budding historians, here is a bit more information about Hoylake.

Built in 1869, it is the oldest of all the English seaside courses, with the exception of Westward Ho in Devon, and for the first seven years the course doubled as a racetrack.

Image source, Getty Images

Age: 45 Country: Scotland

World Ranking: 199th

Majors: The Open

Who could forget the Scot's 1999 Open Championship win at Carnoustie when, helped by Jean van de Velde's triple bogey at the 18th, he came from 10 strokes behind to lift the Claret Jug? He made his Ryder Cup debut the same year, before making a victorious return to the team in 2012. His hopes of a Ryder Cup place this year rest on captain Paul McGinley's wildcard picks.

Lawrie tees off at 07:42 BST and is partnered by American duo Justin Leonard and Ben Curtis.

So with David Howell in the very, very early lead why not ask can England's golfers end a miserable summer of sport for the country?

The World Cup, the Tour de France and the cricket have all produced performances to forget. Is England about to have something to cheer about at last?

The last English winner of an Open staged in England was Tony Jacklin in 1969, while no Englishman has lifted the Claret Jug since Nick Faldo did so at Muirfield in 1992.

Time for that to change maybe?

As I say that, David Howell shows shots can be made on this course as he records back-to-back birdies on holes three and four to go to one under.

All fellow Swindonians (myself included) would love to see the genial Howell challenge this week. A good start as he takes the outright lead with Chris Wood dropping a shot on the second.

Another double on the early holes as Australia's Matt Jones drops two shots on the second hole. Players seem to be struggling early on.

Tiger Woods is bound to attract a lot of attention as he returns to major action for the first time this year at 09:04 BST.

A few other tee times to look out for are Rory McIlroy at 09:26 BST and Ian Poulter at 09:37 BST.

You can see all the tee times here.