It's 524 yards and it's a par four but when you're Rory McIlroy it's a drive and a lofted iron. From 189 yards he sends it into orbit and it comes down in the heart of the green. Playing partner Rahm, built like the proverbial outside convenience, sends his second shot sailing over the dance floor into the thick stuff.

A typically eventful Mickelson hole, in the end it's a good bogey five, sinking a sharp curling putt from five feet. Defending champion Jimmy Walker also begins with a bogey after missing from four feet and Jason Dufner completes a third five for the group.

We will have in-play video clips for you throughout the Championship and let's take a look at that neat little approach from Koepka to within a few inches on the eighth hole en route to a 68 and a share of the clubhouse lead.

It was all set up for some Mickelson magic after the crowd favourite's second shot flew over the green at the first into some deep rough, but the flop shot has sailed way past and all the way to the edge of the green.

A loud cheer for Rory and he has laced a pearler of a tee shot miles down the fairway at this mammoth 524-yard par four. He's playing with big Spaniard Jon Rahm and he has given it a big old bash as well. "I don't go that far to hunt for my kids," the late, great American golfer Dave Marr used to say.

Thorbjorn Olesen stays at the top, he was struggling down the long par four but rolled in a 12 foot par putt and he remains at four under with two to go.

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Beef's frittering a few away now and he has played better chips than that one. It's come up 10 feet or so short and Andrew Johnston's already six over.

Always great to see Phil Mickelson in action and, as ever, the packed galleries give him a warm reception as he unleashes a drive down the first. It's a big one and this one finds the middle of the fairway. The first "Get in the hole" I regret to report. Phil's a big hitter but this hole measures 524 yards today...yet it's a par four, remember.

The current leader is Dane Thorbjorn Olesen, who has birdied two holes in succession to reach four under with three holes to play.

Top Englishman so far is 40-year-old Paul Casey who has returned a two under opening round of 69. He was three under after five.

Peter Alliss
BBC Sport commentator

A pretty mixed bag that from Spieth.

(Jordan Spieth, at one over, is four off the clubhouse leader Grayson Murray as he seeks to become the youngest player to win the career Grand Slam).

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There are shades of Augusta in the course alterations at Quail Hollow, brilliant powdery white sand that I have been trying to get for my miniature course in my garden for years to no avail and vast swathes of pine straw under the large trees. Koepka's drive at the last finds those pine needles but having played out just short of the green he chips up inside three feet and holes out for an impressive opening round of 68.

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Strong finish from Spieth, two birdies and a par and that's a one over 71 for The Open champion. Sergio finishes plus four. That group has taken more than five hours to complete that round though. We'll be here a while tonight.

What a run from US Open champion Brooks Koepka, four birdies in six holes in his royal blue t-shirt - which would not have been tolerated at Goodwood in the late 80s - and he's in a share for the lead at three under with one hole to play.

Mark James
Former Ryder Cup captain on BBC TV

Spieth is starting to make a bit of a comeback.

(The Open champion is four off the lead with one hole left of his first round)

Another birdie for Spieth, having pitched superbly to only a couple of feet at the short par four and he's only one over now. World number one Dustin Johnson's putt to go two under lips out and the big American has two holes to play.

Three shots have gone in as many holes for Andrew 'Beef' Johnston now and he's five over after 11. Another colourful character, John Daly, winner of this Championship having been a reserve in 1991, is all in electric blue today and one under so far.

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Rory's off in a little under half an hour but Scotsman Russell Knox has completed an opening round of 77. Knox birdied his first two holes but bogeyed five of his final seven to finish six over.

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Ken Brown
BBC Sport commentator

It is a golf course that is one of Rory McIlroy's favourites. It suits his game.

Rory comes in with full confidence. He looks to be in command of his game and is hitting it a country mile.

I would put him as favourite.

Three birdies in five holes for Koepka as he curls one in from the edge of the green and that's two under for the Championship. Spieth has an eagle chance and rolls it up to a foot, but his second birdie of the round gets him back to plus two with two to play.

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