Rory McIlroy leads on six under with a round of 66 at Hoylake
Italy's Matteo Manassero makes 67 and Molinari brothers both 68
Lowry, Scott, Garcia, Furyk and Koepka fire 68s and Tiger Woods 69
Westwood 71, Rose 72, Poulter 73, Mickelson 74, B Watson 76
Image source, Getty ImagesAustralian Bryden Macpherson joked with fans, external on Twitter yesterday that he might be able to help punters backing him to finish in the top 20.
That seems a long way off after the 23-year-old carded an opening round of 90, which included a run of 12 dropped shots in five holes just after the turn. At least he steadied to finish with four straight pars.
Shot gone for Scott at 12, he drops to three under. Just a reminder that Rory McIlroy of Nothern Ireland is our leader on six under, one ahead of Italy's Matteo Manassero. The Molinari brothers, two more Italians, are in a group on four under, as is Spain's Sergio Garcia. Tiger Woods is one shot further back.
Scott with a long range birdie attempt at 12, leaves it left and races it by. Boo Weekley, he of the driver that is also a horse, birdies the par-four 17th to move to three under, three off the lead and tied for ninth. Wind freshening at Hoylake...
A day to forget for Australia's Bryden Macpherson, the 23-year-old from Melbourne has gone round in 90 blows. Sandy Lyle is not far behind him, the 1985 champion is nine over after 17, double at 11, triple at 14. This course is teethy when it's benign, lord knows what it will be like when it decided to get nasty.
Image source, ReutersMickelson with a longun for par at 14 and that's another shot gone for the defending champion, back to level he goes. Lee Westwood makes birdie at 10 and is two under, four off the lead. Rose hitting into the 12th with a four iron and that's not too clever, horrible bounce into some long stuff. Scott with a shorter club, just onto the green, and Dufner follows him on...
American Jim Furyk speaking to BBC Sport after shooting an opening round of 68, two shots behind leader Rory McIlroy: "Conditions have really good all week. Tomorrow could be a bit gusty and the first real test of links golf but it was nice to get out in benign conditions and shoot a good score.
"I have a lot of confidence in my game. I've had a lot of time off, I haven't played since the US Open, mentally I'm rested and my attitude is very positive."
13th (Alps)
Par three, 194 yards
Image source, Getty ImagesPlayers will have to make sure they take enough club to carry the mounds guarding the front left of the green.
2006 difficulty rating: 9
Many thanks Luke, this is Ben Dirs again. Someone has stuck one in from off the green, it's former Masters champion Zach Johnson on 14. Alas, it's for a par. Here's Bubba hitting the pin from some scrub and tapping in for bogey and four over. Bubba's not just wild, he's livid.
Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Hoylake
Image source, PA"A late afternoon haze over Hoylake now. The more trampled dune areas down on the edge of the Dee Estuary - around the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th - are taking on a shimmer. If this sun and drying wind keeps up they will begin to represent the sort of slick track Olympic skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold favours."
Image source, Getty ImagesCrash, bang, wallop go Bubba Watson's clubs as he angrily puts them back into his bag. "I'll hit a provisional," he says.
Best you had Bubba because that is some serious rough you have landed your tee shot in.
The American is three over after 12. His round has fallen apart.
Adam Scott has pitched up at Royal Liverpool early and got plenty of practice in.
"I've lost count of how many practice rounds he has had," says BBC Sport's Maureen Madill. "He told me he was on his sixth on Monday."
Scott desperately wants this one but will have to make do with par on 11 as he is off line with a birdie effort.
The Lee Westwood yo-yo round continues. Bogey, birdie, bogey, birdie now after a four on the par five 10th.
He is unlucky not to break the cycle after an eagle putt slips narrowly past. Still, right in the mix.
"It's gone left," says Justin Rose. "No, it's a good shot," replies his caddie.
The effort - the subject of much deliberation as the pair chose a club - lands on the 11th green but short of the flag, leaving around 20 feet for birdie.
Adam Scott lands his ball in the same area but Jason Dufner, still two under, is close. Around 10 feet.
Can they catch Rory McIlroy? The 25-year-old has started fast this season but tends to fade.
He averages 68 on the opening round in the PGA Tour this term, making him the quickest out of the blocks on Tour. It is uphill from there though, with 72.9 his average mark on round two, followed by 70.3 and 70.2 thereafter.
McIlroy leads, after a six under par effort on day one at Royal Liverpool.
What next for Bubba Watson after that seven on 11?
12th (Dee)
Par four, 447 yards
Image source, Getty ImagesBeware. The toughest hole in 2006, costing 138 bogeys and 15 double bogeys. Fairway bunkers on the right often come into play, while the green is raised and protected by a large trough on the left.
2006 difficulty rating: 1
Image source, PACrowds cross the course in front of the clubhouse. The sun-kissed scene may well be swapped for umbrellas tomorrow if the weather changes as forecast.
"This course can bite back tomorrow," says former European Ryder Cup captain Mark James on BBC One.
Dear me Bubba Watson. No sooner has the Masters champion moaned about spectators flooding the fairway has he carded a triple-bogey seven.
He replicates the earlier Ernie Els showing - missing from two feet - and looks visibly angry.
Two shots under par after eight holes, two shots over after 11. Rough treatment.
Selected others: -3: Rickie Fowler (US), Tiger Woods (US); -2: Louis Oosthuizen (SA), Zach Johnson (US); -1: Stewart Cink (US), Hunter Mahan (US), Justin Rose (Eng), Lee Westwood (Eng), Phil Mickelson (US); Par: David Howell (Eng), Darren Clarke (NI), Henrik Stenson (Swe), Martin Kaymer (Ger); +1: Ian Poulter (Eng), Luke Donald (Eng); +2: Paul Casey (Eng), Bubba Watson (US), Graeme McDowell (NI); +7 Ernie Els (SA)
Lee Westwood suffers the perils of links golf on nine and comes out the dark side of small margins.
His tee shot is solid, settles on the fringe of the green, but just catches a down slope and rolls away. The resulting chip is to within eight feet but he cannot convert the putt for par. A waste. Another inch or two would have saved his tee shot.
Bogey, birdie, bogey for Westwood. One under.
Bill Davies, who was marshalling at the 16th hole, was struck on his leg by Rickie Fowler's ball and then on the shoulder by Charl Schwartzel's.
"It hit me on the shoulder and I went down and lay there for a little bit of time, I wasn't too bad but having two things happening to you within three quarters of hour, then you know, you start worrying," said Bill.
Bill, who is the president of the Vicars Cross Golf Club in Chester, said the players apologised once they realised they had hit him. "Rickie Fowler was more interested, first thing in the ball, when I was lying on the floor... anyway he was very good about it, he said 'I'm sorry'."
Listen to Bill's story via a clip on the BBC Radio 5 live website.