Webb Simpson scales the heights of the leaderboard.

The American lands a second successive birdie, and his fourth in five holes. That moves him to to four under and a three-way share of the lead with Alex Noren and Shane Lowry.

Ouch.

It's a three-putt for Francesco Molinari. Back level.

Rory McIlroy hacked out on the fifth and is on the green for two. He has around 40ft left for birdie. This has been a round laced with evil so far.

Here comes the putt, superb... an inch left for par and in it goes. Five holes down, five shots gone

Francesco Molinari drives a 40ft birdie putt uphill on the par-three sixth. It flies left of the hole but is still in range for par. It's not an easy one for the defending champion, though.

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at Royal Portrush

This is the tunnel that’s been put in at Royal Portrush to take the players from the eighth green through to the ninth tee and then also from the 10th to the 11th to help avoid a bottleneck of fans - at least it’s supposed to. One steward told me they keep ignoring the route and jumping the ropes instead.

Image source, BBC Sport

This bunker chat continues to take off on #bbcgolf. I don't know how it started or where it will take us.

Eddie tweets: "Trump International Dubai. Pleased to say that’s not me in there!"

Keep them coming. And never forget to rake.

Image source, Eddie

Shane Lowry whacks it straight down the middle on the par-four 14th. His second shot is decent too, landing right of the hole to leave him with a chance of taking the solo lead.

Eddie Pepperell has leaked a stroke out on 14.

The Englishman leaves his par putt shot and slips back to two under.

The first man out is the first man in. Here's what Darren Clarke had to say to BBC Radio 5 Live after his first round.

"The noise on the first tee was special. To be given the honour of hitting the first tee shot, and to hit a decent one, it was probably more emotional than I thought it was going to be. And the fans were great all the way round. It's been a fabulous day."

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at Royal Portrush

The rugged Northern Ireland coastline doesn't only make the perfect dwelling for links golf courses - these Hollywood-worthy backdrops are also the ideal setting for big-hitting shows such as Game of Thrones, while The Fall and Line of Duty have also been filmed nearby.

This snap was taken looking out along Portstewart Strand, which GOT fans may be interested to know plays the Coast of Dorne in the show, while Dragonstone is a stone's throw further along the shore at Downhill Beach.

In total, 26 different locations dotted around Northern Ireland have been used with the likes of Winterfell, Riverrun and Slavers Bay all shot here.

Image source, BBC Sport

Rory McIlroy's quadruple bogey on the first was just the second of his career in a major.

On the fifth he's in deep rough and contemplating taking a free drop as I think he is hampered by a scoreboard.

His playing partners today are currently ticking along, Gary Woodland at level par, Paul Casey at one over.

Beagle on the course!

BBC commentator Andrew Cotter spots a rogue dog running free on the Portrush fairways.

The hound gets the full slo-mo treatment, ears flopping, jowls slapping. Will he make the highlights? You will have to tune in at 20:00 BST to BBC Two to find out.

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at Royal Portrush

“Get the bags packed and go home. 8-1 favourite? Shows what the bookies know...” not too much sympathy for Rory McIlroy from one Northern Irishman behind me.

An understated fist pump from Sergio Garcia as he knocks in a birdie on the par-four 11th.

That's the Spaniard's third birdie in his last four holes. Making moves.

This currently is the bottom of the leaderboard. Rory McIlroy in a bit of trouble again on the fifth as a search party look for his ball.

Who'd have pictured this?

Image source, .

Graeme McDowell keeps putting that local knowledge to good use, draining his birdie putt at seven to move into share of two-under. The Northern Irishman is tied eighth.

It's a huge downhill putt for Lowry and he gives it a bit too much pace. It edges to the left and just beyond the hole.

Should be alright for a par, though.

Joint leader Shane Lowry follows up his birdie on 12 with a sturdy tee shot on the par-three 13th.

Would say it's too far away for a birdie, but he's made some impressive putts so far today.

I love the BBC Sport readers. It started with one bunker and now it's just people sending us pictures of bunkers.

Here's Berando who just writes: "Winter bunkers in London."

Been there Berando, been there. Hacking out of the icy sand.

Keep them coming ladies and gents, we love a good bunker.

Image source, Berando

Conor McNamara
BBC Radio 5 live commentator at Royal Portrush

This is lovely, Darren Clarke turns and gives a round of applause to all the fans. He shakes hands with the scorers. And as he disappears, the fans get up and start to leave the grandstand around the green - they clearly came just to see their hero who won the 2011 Open Championship.