Arcathorn Windtalker:, external Sergio's going to break my heart, again, this weekend. I can tell.

Nick Taylor:, external Crikey - what's happened to Ernie Els? That was the strangest/shortest 3-putt I think I've ever seen!

Dawn Diaper:, external What was Els doing? That's like me playing a grumpy game of crazy golf when I would prefer to be eating an ice cream.

Els missed two tap-ins, including one back-handed putt, on the first hole for a triple-bogey seven. Anyone else got any examples a golfing howler either from a pro or your own round?

Image source, Getty Images

Sergio Garcia talking on BBC Two after shooting a four-under-par 68 to finish two shots behind leader Rory McIlroy: "It was a beautiful day to play. We don't seem to get a lot of those days in the Open, it was nice to play very well as well. I have always loved this championship, after the Ryder Cup it is always my favourite to play.

"I love the links, the knowledgeable crowds, how you have to think about every shot."

Martin Young:, external Great to see Tiger Woods back in action at The Open. Would love to see Tiger and Rory last pair on Sunday.

Griffiths:, external Love golf on the BBC. Peter Alliss and team make us feel such at home.

Arcathorn Windtalker:, external Sergio's going to break my heart again this weekend. I can tell.

Scott with a nice second at the first, could be off the mark with a birdie. Woods is back on the range already, no rest for the big fella. Kaymer with his second at four, corker, could make birdie from about six feet. Rose with a cute putt from off the front of the first green, should be par.

Mickelson with a peach into the second, could make birdie, Matt Kuchar makes eagle at 18 for a 71. Boo Weekley, a former Ryder Cupper, birdies four and five to move to two under par. Lodewicus Oosthuizen, champion in 2010, is in with a 70, Els has let another shot go at two, he's four over already. Mickelson makes par, as does Bubba.

Image source, Getty Images

Padraig Harrington made it back-to-back Open victories with his mark of three over enough to take the 2008 title at Royal Birkdale.

He has work to do to repeat the feat though, carding two over in his opening round at Hoylake. Bogeys on holes six, seven, 16 and 17 cost him.

Here's Bubba, parachuting in at the second, straight into the guts of the green. World number one Adam Scott about to let rip at the first and that's a beauty, a willowy right-to-lefter. Justin Rose, coming into the tournament with two straight wins, finds semi-rough with his tee shot, Jason Dufner, the 2013 US PGA champion, spanks one down the middle.

Image source, Reuters

Leader Rory McIlroy speaking to BBC Sport after his opening round of 66: "It's sort of does constitute the perfect round, especially in the first round of an Open. I couldn't ask for anymore. I stuck to my gameplan, focused on the par five and tried to pick up other shots. For the most part my golf ball was under control and I'm very happy.

"I'm really glad I went up to Aberdeen last week and played four competitive rounds of links golf. The conditions are perfect and that's why so many guys are under par but it was great to get some competitive golf coming into this week.

"I'm playing well, swinging the club really nicely, holed some nice putts and I'll try to continue to do that and hopefully have another solid round tomorrow. I won't approach it differently. They're forecasting a little more wind, I'm at six under par and just keep it going one shot at a time."

Age: 34 Country: Australia.

World ranking: 1

Majors: Masters 1

Scott has had good chances to win the last two Opens, losing a four-shot lead at Royal Lytham & St. Annes and getting passed by Phil Mickelson last year at Muirfield. Few are better with a driver, and that could be an important club at a Royal Liverpool links that is more green and lush than last time. Scott is getting comfortable at No. 1 in the world - he has been there nearly two months now.

Stephen Blevins:, external Great start for @McIlroyRory but he won't be happy with that 66. Left 3 or 4 out there.

David caffrey:, external Clickety click, cracking round Rory.

Nick Taylor:, external Come on Rory McIlroy we know that you're not going repeat your Friday meltdown this time. You can do this!

Here's Bubba with a two iron at two and that's straight down the middle again, or at least it was at the end. After a big hook at the first, Ernie has pushed his second. Els has been imbued with the spirit of Ronnie Corbett, seemingly overnight.

Mark James
Former Ryder Cup captain on BBC TV

"That was so unlike Ernie, he's normally so deliberate. To do that on the first hole of a major, that was very strange and so out of character. He is probably in shock. His caddie in bigger shock. That was ridiculously careless."

BBC Radio 5 live

Italy's Matteo Manassero talking on BBC Radio 5 live after a five-under-par round of 67: "It was a fantastic round and a wonderful way to to start the Open Championship in this wonderful weather. It's great to be near the top of the leaderboard and I dream of having a Sunday afternoon tee time. It was a good day for three Italians."

Ernie Els's race could be run at the first hole. One minute he's having a laugh and a joke with Mickelson, the next he's missed two tiddlers, including a back-hander you see club hackers miss on any given Sunday, for a triple-bogey seven. What a colossal nause-up from the two-time champion.

Tiger Woods talks to BBC One after his round of 69: "That was a rough start there, bogeying the first two. I stayed patient. I figured it was one of those days where someone would shoot seven under par today and I had to just get in there and use the par fives I had to play.

"If you've been off a few months it can be tough, compound that with surgery and it's hard.

"My rounds at home were really good, I was excited at how I was playing at home. iIf I can do that at home, I can definitely do that here."

Here's Poulter with a birdie attempt at the last and he bends it in from 20-odd feet for a round of 73. Jimmy Walker leaves his birdie attempt left, a 69 for him, here's Mickelson with a long birdie attempt at the first... cosies it up there, should make par. Dustin Johnson, the big-hitter from Jupiter, Florida, is in with a 71...

Lee Westwood speaks to BBC One head of his first round: "Hoylake is a golf course that suits my game. I enjoy playing it. Hopefully the weather stays calm as it did all morning and we can make hay while the sun shines.

"You want a low score to get in credit as the weather forecast seems average for the next few days."

Westwood will tee off at 14:38 BST.

Canada's David Hearn, a late replacement for former champion Mark Calcavecchia, who's plane was cancelled, curls in a monstrous Bender in a Bun at 15, moves to two under. Ian Poulter having an ordinary day, as is Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, both two over through 17.

Image source, Getty Images

Age: 44 Country: United States

World ranking: 13

Majors: Masters 3, British Open 1, PGA Championship 1

Not even Mickelson thought he would ever win a Claret Jug until he delivered one of the great closing rounds last year at Muirfield. Perhaps even more surprising is that he has not won another tournament since then, and only once (Abu Dhabi) did he have a chance to win. All parts of his game have been in working order this year, just not at the same time. As always, he is at a stage in his career when great golf can show up when he least expects it.

BBC Radio 5 live

Tiger Woods talking on BBC Radio 5 live after a three-under-par round of 69: "I figured out how to manage my way around the golf course after an awful start, but got back to even par on the turn.

"I know what it's like to win here but the golf course is completely different to when I won in 2006, it's much lusher. The weather forecast will change things over the next few days though.

"It feels great to be competing again at the elite level and playing at Congressional really helped me. The more rounds I play I'm getting sharper and stronger."