Woods catches fire after cagey start

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND, JULY 20: Tiger Woods made a cagey start to his quest for golfing immortality at the British Open here on Thursday be...

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND, JULY 20: Tiger Woods made a cagey start to his quest for golfing immortality at the British Open here on Thursday before unleashing a birdie blitz to grab the early lead in the clubhouse. Woods came in with a five-under-par 67 to top the leaderboard, while out on the course English qualifier Ian Garbutt was threatening the course record standing at seven-under-par after 12 holes.

It was an opening round of great application and patience for Woods as he started out with eight straight pars before opening his shoulders round the Loop middle section to add five birdies in seven holes. quot;I played solid, consistent golf,quot; he said.

The 24-year-old is attempting to become the youngest player ever to win all four Majors 8212; he has already won the Masters, the US Open and the USPGA 8212; and he set a cautious tone early by pulling an iron out of his bag on two of the first three holes. Only some flawless putting allowed him to be level par after four.

Up ahead of him, American Notah Begay cashed in on the ideal conditions to charge into an early lead, before being undone by the Road Hole. The 27-year-old ripped into the most famous course in golf to reach the turn in a stunning five-under 31.

Irishman Padraig Harrington also had an explosive start with five birdies in the first nine holes. In the clubhouse with good early scores were 1996 winner Tom Lehman of the United States, countryman Dennis Paulson, and Japan8217;s Shigeki Maruyama, all with four under 68s. Thomas Bjorn of Denmark, Loren Roberts of the United States and Ireland8217;s Paul McGinley were on 69 alongside Begay, Paul Azinger and Jim Furyk. Among the favourites, Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland, Lee Westwood of England and 1997 winner Justin Leonard of the United States both had 70s But Hal Sutton struggled to a 75, Nick Price of Zimbabwe had a 76 and quot;golden oldiequot; Lee Trevino wisecracked his way around to an eight-over 80.