ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Dustin Johnson came out on top in his latest battle with Jordan Spieth as both men enjoyed strong starts to the British Open at St. Andrews.
With a gentle wind at their backs on the front nine and soft greens making pins accessible, Thursday's morning starters capitalised with a flurry of early birdies.
And Johnson, playing alongside the 21-year-old who edged him for U.S. Open glory at Chambers Bay last month, was also able to improve his score on the trickier inward half as he signed for a 7-under 65.
"It's all about navigating the bunkers out here off the tee," Johnson said after his round.
"Today, I drove it really straight, I drove it well. I have been for a while now."
Robert Streb, two-time U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen, 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie and Aussie Jason Day were a shot back as the winds gradually strengthened.
Day says he is feeling in good shape following the vertigo problems that hindered him at U.S. Open last month, as he shot a superb six-under-par 66 at the first round of The Open.
The Australian was in contention for most of the weekend at Chambers Bay before eventually finishing in a tie of seventh, three shots off the pace.
The 27-year-old fell to the ground with dizziness on the final hole of the second round, and continued to be troubled throughout the weekend.
Day subsequently withdrew from the Travelers Championship last month, but appeared in fine fettle at St Andrews as he hit a bogey-free round to sit just one stroke adrift of leader Dustin Johnson.
"I feel good. I should just stay healthy, so I don't have to answer these questions anymore," Day said.
"I'm not thinking about falling over on my face again. I'm not worrying about it and I feel healthy and I'm good to go."
Spieth, chasing a third successive major win and injured and absent Rory McIlroy's No. 1 world ranking, followed six birdies in the first 11 holes with a few shaky moments, but a closing birdie left him well positioned at 5-under.
Alongside Spieth were the likes of Kevin Na and Charl Schwartzel as well as amateurs Jordan Niebrugge and Paul Kinnear, but former world No. 1 Tiger Woods looked a shadow of the man who won at this venue in 2000 and 2005 as he struggled to a dismal 76.
The highlight of Johnson's round came at the par-5 fifth, where a stunning second shot set up an eagle.
He also rolled in a sizeable par putt on 17 when a bogey appeared inevitable.
"Longest putt I made all day," said Johnson.
"It was a great putt for par."
Veteran Scot Lawrie also produced a moment to savor, saving an unlikely par with a pitch to a few inches at 14 from a perilous position at the back of the 15th tee.
By that stage, Spieth had to battle hard to stay among the leaders, but he bounced back from bogeys at 13 and 17 with a trademark lengthy birdie putt on 18.
Streb, who revealed he had no previous experience at links golf, mixed seven birdies with a solitary dropped shot at the 10th, while the 46-year-old Goosen — U.S. Open champion in 2001 and 2004 — was similarly impressive at one of his favorite venues.
"It's a golf course I've played a long time and the last two Opens that were here, I think I finished fifth and sixth, so I do like the course," said Goosen.
They were soon joined at 6-under by Day, who comfortably outshone playing partner Woods on another day of woe for the latter.
Sweden's David Lingmerth turned in a record-equaling 29 with eight 3s, but fell away on the back nine to end the day 3-under.