NO TOASTING POOR START FOR MARK

MARK O’MEARA made a nightmare start to his final Open when he sliced the opening shot out of bounds on his way to an 81 – and then said his day was “toast” at 6.30am. The 1998 champion, playing on the last year of his winner’s exemption as he has turned 60, got up at 4.30am to hit the first shot in heavy rain and winds. His second shot off the tee went into a fairway bunker on his way to a dreaded snowman eight on the nasty first hole. “I got off to such a poor start,” said the American (above).

“I’ve won the Open, but when you hit one straight right off the first tee out of bounds, it would be like standing on the first tee on the Ballybunion and hitting the graveyard. My day was toast after that first tee shot.”

His playing partner Chris Wood, who shot 71, said: “I didn’t say anything. What can you say?”