Ulsterman Graeme McDowell, Rocco Mediate of the United States and Robert Allenby of Australia all took full advantage of improving weather conditions to share the first round lead in the British Open..

They were among those fortunate enough to set out in the afternoon groupings missing the full force of the storm which wreaked havoc during the morning's play. All three ducked under par by birdieing the final two holes.

They were the only three players under par by the end of the day over a tough Royal Birkdale course that at times early on was all but unplayable under lashing rain and a cold, gusting wind.

One stroke back was Australian veteran champion Greg Norman, who rolled back the years with a 70, level with young compatriot Adam Scott and Bart Bryant of the United States.

South Africa's Retief Goosen and Canada's Mike Weir, who went out in the worst of the weather earlier in the day deserved credit for grinding out a pair of hard-earned 71s.

They were joined in the afternoon and evening by former US Open champion Jim Furyk, Frenchman Gregory Havret, Swedes Fredrik Jacobsen and Peter Hanson, and English pair Simon Wakefield and Anthony Wall.

Tournament favourite Sergio Garcia of Spain stayed well in touch coming in with a steady 72.

McDowell, who had the biggest win of his career at last week's Scottish Open, said that having played his formative years in golf over the Irish Sea on the links of Portrush, he had a distinct inbuilt advantage.

"Certainly that kind of experience is hard to come by - 10, 15, 20 years golfing at Portrush I think kinds of stands me in good stead when I come to the British Open," he said.

The 45-year-old Mediate, who lost to Tiger Woods in an 18-hole playoff at the US Open last week acknowledged the later start had been advantageous.

"The guys this morning had the worst of it," he said. "It was much easier without the rain in the afternoon. I'm enjoying it as you don't get to do this that often."

Allenby, who battled back from being three over at the turn, said he had been briefed what to expect by compatriot Ian Baker-Finch, the last Australian to win at Royal Birkdale in 1991.

"I watched what was going on this morning on television and that is an added bonus of going out at the Open in the afternoon," he added.

"All I wanted to do was control the ball, keep it in play and keep mistakes to the minimum."

Playing in his 26th Open at the age of 53, two-times former winner Norman had two birdies to offset two bogeys for a share of fourth place, but he insisted he would not be getting carried away about his chances of winning.

"I'm still going to be very low key about it - keep my expectations in check and just enjoy it," he said.

Among the victims of the morning storms were some of the biggest names in golf.

Both Ernie Els and Vijay Singh had 10-over 80s, while Phil Mickelson had a 79 and all will have to shoot low on Friday just to have a chance of making the cut.

For Els it was the worst score he had carded in 67 rounds at The Open and he angrily stomped off without speaking to reporters.

Mickelson said he had not given up hope of getting back in the hunt.

"I am not out of it by any means, but I have to shoot something around par tomorrow," he commented.

Singh though was despondent complaining: "It was miserable, miserable, miserable weather. It was just a miserable day."

Two-times US Open winner Goosen bounced back from a double-bogey six at the fifth, sinking monster putts at the 12th and 14th holes en route to his 71.

Former Masters champion Weir joined him on one-over thanks to a magnificent five-iron from 205 yards which set up an eagle three at the 17th.

"It was tough out there especially on a golf course like this," Goosen said.

"It reminded me of Muirfield (in 2002). It was a battle and I had an up and down finish, but I am happy now."

In the same grouping as Goosen, defending champion Padraig Harrington, with the help of painkillers, came in with a battling four-over 74, that would have been even more impressive if not for bogeys at 17 and 18.

The Irishman's participation had been in serious doubt all week due to a wrist injury and it was only after hitting some balls on the driving range in the early morning gloom that he decided to give it a go.

"I did struggle at the start to release the club and I missed a few shots, but once I was on the back nine I started to hit the ball better," he said.

AFP.

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