Viktor Hovland opts to putt from the back of the ninth green. It's a decent try and he leaves himself a five-footer down the hill for an outward nine of 34, and in it goes.

Shane Lowry fancies the chip though and leaves himself a six-footer for a three, which he makes!

Justin Thomas' eagle putt is a smidge timid, but he tidies up for another gain which takes him to two-under.

The ninth is giving up a lot of birdies today and all three members of this group duly profit to put a spring in their respective strides as they head for home.

All aboard the par train! Not quite as fun or exhilarating as the birdie train, but it will do for Cameron Smith.

The world number six levels again with the Old Course, knocking in a fifth successive par on the 17th.

Boring golf is the key here, said Rory McIlroy.

You can't call a man with a wild look like Smith boring. So instead, we'll call it controlled.

Image source, Getty Images

McIlroy is left with what looks a reasonably straightforward pitch shot onto the 10th green, but he gets underneath it too much and the ball digs its toes in and leaves him well short.

Image source, Getty Images

A solid start from former US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau - who showed remarkable restraint when not just standing up and bashing a driver or three wood off every tee today.

He's shown respect to St Andrews and the dangers of the course and that sensible approach has paid off as a birdie on the last puts him well in contention.

It's another putt missed by Cameron Young - this one was no gimme but was still a chance as it lipped out right at the last.

The American could have been street ahead if he'd had his putting boots on over the last few holes.

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at St Andrews

There’s light drizzle in the air!

The links has been a playground for Dylan Frittelli in recent years.

After staying in the box all week at St George's and eventually finishing fifth, the 32-year-old South African is already having fun on the Old Course.

Birdie-par-birdie-birdie.

Cracking start. That's tempered by a bogey on the sixth, though.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Paul Lawrie took the opening shot of the 150th Open - and was talking to BBC Radio 5 Live:

"It was a huge honour to take the opening tee shot on the anniversary event.

"I couldn't believe how many people were on the grandstand quite early in the morning but it just shows you what this tournament means to people

"Nice tee-shot on 18th but I just seemed to rack up a score but it was nice to finish off at 18 and get a couple of those back."

-7 Cameron Young (14)

-4 Rory McIlroy (9)

-4 Barclay Brown (68)

-4 Cameron Smith (16)

-4 Kurt Kitayama (68)

-4 Ernie Els (11)

-4 Brad Kennedy (11)

Full leaderboard

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport at St Andrews

There's a cracking little halfway house just off the back of the ninth green, not that the players will be stopping for a tuna mayo roll before they head to the 10th tee.

BBC Sport's golf correspondent Iain Carter was fuming after a seagull swooped and nicked his sandwich, which he had left on top of his bag while he prepared to tee off a couple of months ago.

If only the Eagle Owl had been around (see 09:28 entry)

It was still a rookie error from Iain, and he knew it. You can listen to him right now on the BBC Radio 5 Live commentary. Click the link on this page.

Image source, Getty Images

After a bit of a wait again, McIlroy flared his drive on nine way out to the right by the 10th tee, but he can still get the putter on it and hammers an effort right across the width of the green.

He's got a great birdie putt down the hill but he slides it just wide and has to settle for a four - chance missed.

The Hovland-Thomas-Lowry three-ball have reached the driveable ninth.

Thomas smokes his drive and it trundles nicely onto the green so the American will be eyeing up a Poulter-esque eagle.

Hovland's effort comes in hot and races through the green, as does Lowry's.

Chipping is the weakest part of Hovland's game, but it's one of Lowry's strong points. It'll be interesting to see how they fare from off the back of that green.

Cameron Young may have just looked up and seen his name on top of the leaderboard as he's poked a nervy birdie putt wide of the target on 14 and passed up a great opportunity to get to eight under.

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at St Andrews

The windows of the Old Course Hotel remain intact after Bryson DeChambeau takes to the tee at 17 - he smoked his drive into the long grass, just avoiding the road near the Jigger Inn - the perfect spectator spot, with phone-wielding pint-swigging fans lining the wall to watch the American hack out.

Not checked in with Cameron Smith for a little while.

The hairy Aussie, mullet wafting in the wind and 'tasche spiky, stays on four under after lagging another birdie putt on the 16th.

Been a few of those today and his grimace as he goes to knock in for par indicates he knows he should be closer to his fellow Cameron at the top.

As it is, Smith remains four under and three behind Young.

Andrew Priestley: Rory McIlroy’s putting game has really turned around since his move to Brad Faxon’s coaching. Consistently turning three-putts into two-putts on these massive double greens at St Andrews will be crucial come Sunday afternoon.

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport at St Andrews

Things are slowing up a bit and this group are being told to get a move on - I’m not sure John Daly can go any quicker at this point, to be fair. We’ve all felt like that down the final stretch of a round.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Ian Poulter, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "Pretty solid day all bar a strange tee shot on the first which nearly went out of bounds - that was not how you wanted to start a round at St Andrews.

On his lengthy eagle putt on nine: "When you are on these greens you definitely have some puts 100+ feet and it happened to be one of those. It's a super flat green and it took like an eternity to get to the hole - and it dropped it."

On his reception from the crowd: "The reception from the crowd was awesome - home fans and respectful fans. Every green they applaud you on. It's the right crowd to play in front of."

Iain Carter
BBC golf correspondent on Radio 5 Live

I think Rory has been a good place all year long.

He has finished high in the majors so far. He didn't play his best at Brookline but for 70 holes he was in the mix.

The qualify of his putting this year, that's what has made him very dangerous - if he can stay in this happy place.

A fine opening round for Kurt Kitayama with a clean card containing four birdies and no bogeys putting him right in the mix.

We shouldn't be too surprised after he finished second at the Scottish Open last week - a result that booked his place at St Andrews this week.

And he's taken full advantage of that links golf form today.