Golf: The Open - 2008 - Day 1

Gary Lineker is at Royal Birkdale as the 137th Open Championship gets under way. The Southport course has hosted eight previous Opens and its roll of honour includes Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson. No British golfer has ever won the title when it has been held at the course but home hopes of victory will have improved with the news that Tiger Woods will not be able to play due to knee surgery. Woods was one of the pacesetters the last time the Open was held at Royal Birkdale after a first round of 65. But it was another American, Mark O'Meara, who held the famous Claret Jug aloft the following Sunday after winning a play-off against Brian Watts.