Devil's Advocate: Let's never hold The Ryder Cup at Royal Troon! The Americans always tear it up there! 

You're not wrong.

The US has won the last six Open championships held at Troon, including Justin Leonard in 1997, who is currently on four-under par, a shot off the lead.

David Leadbetter
Leading golf coach on BBC Radio 5 live

Rory says that he doesn't have a responsibility to grow the game, but he does have a responsibility. He is an ambassador, a role model.

I think that the format is very boring though. There should be team and singles events, just like gymnastics.

Dustin Johnson taps in to get the birdie that looked a formality on the seventh and for the first time today he is the right side of par.

Martin Kaymer is much further out for a birdie, but it ends with the same result - the ball vanishing off the green and cheers from the crowd. Two birdies in a row for both the American and the German.

The three-ball are in good spirits as Russell Knox also birdies that hole, and after being three over after three, he is back to one over after seven.

Iain Carter
BBC Radio 5 live at Royal Troon

Image source, Getty Images

"The problem is it’s the top four players in the world who have pulled out. The reason is none of these players were pretending to putt for an Olympic gold when they were younger. They are not bothered. They want to win Majors.

"It was the same before tennis was brought back to the Olympics, the top players weren't bothered, but now if you speak to the world's best players, Murray, Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, they all desperately want to win Olympic gold.

"I know there are a lot of players and officials who are terribly upset by Rory’s comments. Golf should definitely be part of the Olympics, it would gain a lot."

Rory McIlroy received a bit of criticism for speaking his mind about golf and the Olympics pre-Open.

After his two-under-par first round at Royal Troon, he was asked for a response. He was pretty forthright...

“I've thought about Olympics and golf for the last seven years and I decided it was time to stop dancing around the issue and actually tell everyone what I thought," he began.

"Some people don't like it, I get that; it's my opinion and my opinion may be wrong, I may be wrong in a lot of people's minds but to me it's just how I feel. I don’t think anyone can blame me for being too honest, but at the same time it was seven years of trying to give the PC answer and finally I just cracked."

Image source, Getty Images

Dustin Johnson, Russell Knox and Martin Kaymer all find the fairway off the seventh tee, before Johnson produces a lovely dinked second shot to leave what looks a nailed on birdie.

That would be his second in a row and the US Open champion is starting to roar.

John Daly would be proud.

Keep sending your pictures to us, tweet #bbcgolf.

Talking of Americans enjoying Troon...

Did you know The Open has been played at Troon eight times? 

The first championship back in 1923 was won by England's Arthur Havers - remember him? - but the last six winners have all been American, the most recent being Todd Hamilton who beat Ernie Els in a four-hole play-off in 2004.

Hamilton returns to Troon this year and tees off with fellow former Troon winners Justin Leonard (1997) and Mark Calcavecchia (1989).

What odds on an American making it seven in a row in 2016?

American Justin Leonard won at Royal Troon in 1997 and is positioning himself comfortably among the leaders after 11 holes of his first round this weekend.

Many have struggled following the turn so far today, but the 44-year-old found par on the 10th before making a birdie on the 11th.

He goes four under and sits one shot off clubhouse leader and compatriot (well, they all are up that end of the leaderboard) Patrick Reed.

Dustin Johnson chips on to the green at the sixth and the bounce is kind to him, leaving a possible birdie attempt.

The world number two, eight feet from the pin, sends it straight into the middle of the hole for his first birdie of the day.

Martin Kaymer, after a tidy chip and run, also birdies the same hole.  

Russell Knox cannot complete a trio of birdies for this group as he taps in for par, after his putt attempt swings from right to left, but a bit too much to the left.

We sent Tom English out at first light this morning to see how Royal Troon's favourite son Colin Montgomerie got on with the opening tee shot at 06:35.

The round opened with a double bogey before the Scot hit back with five birdies before the turn to briefly lead. Want to know more? Read Tom's take on Monty's first Open round in six years.

Image source, Getty Images

And it's a birdie for Mickelson on the eighth that puts him four under. 

Set up by that wonderful tee shot he nudges in to make his card so far read par, birdie, par, birdie, par, birdie, par, birdie.

With a little bit of this and a little bit of that...

Image source, Getty Images

Patrick Reed has been talking on BBC Radio 5 live about his aggressive style of play which has helped him to a leading round of 66.

“When I was younger, I always played in the age group above and a year makes a big difference, so I had to go out and prove I could play. So I suppose I’m still doing the same now. Trying to prove to everyone that I should be here.”

He also talked about the Olympics.

“Anytime I get the opportunity to represent my country, I’m going to take it. I felt it was a risk worth taking. You never know how long golf will be around in the Olympics for so to have the chance to win a gold medal and join greats like Michael Phelps, I wasn’t going to give that up.”

Phil Mickelson has reached the Postage Stamp and strikes a beauty off the tee, leaving the American several feet from the pin.

The eighth hole has been the making of some and breaking of others today, but that's signed, sealed and all-but delivered from the 46-year-old.

Image source, AP

John Daly's pants offering today comes straight from the fruit bowl - he must have predicted this warm weather at Troon...

But it's time for a little self-shaming, we're sure you also have some crazy golf clobber knocking around or have donned something out of the ordinary once upon a time in your golfing career, so dig out your pics and tweet them to #bbcgolf

After all, I bet you thought it looked good at the time...

We said Russell Knox needed to improve his putting game, so the Scot instantly responds with a birdie at the fifth.

That brings him back to two over after he had dropped three shots in his opening three holes.

Knox is one shot behind Dustin Johnson, who in turn is one behind Martin Kaymer through five.

You drive for show...

Image source, .

And you putt for dough...

Image source, .

Dustin Johnson is at the par-three fifth, aiming for his first birdie of the day, but he does not give his long-range attempt enough juice and it falls just short. Close, but not close enough.

Solid but unspectacular from German Martin Kaymer. That is now four pars in a row to start his round after an eight-foot birdie putt attempt falls wide.

Scotland's Russell Knox also claims a par at the fourth, but needs to improve with the putter, that's already nine shots he has had with the putter today.

Dustin Johnson, the other member of this three-ball, also comes up with a par to stay one over.