No one took greater advantage of the benign course than 21-year-old Irishman Rory McIlroy who set the lowest first round score in the history of the Championship with a nine-under-par 63.
It was a tale of two halves over the St. Andrews Old Course on the first day of the 150th Anniversary Open Championship. The morning starters were blessed with flat, calm conditions, while those who played in the afternoon had to contend with rising wind and blasts of heavy rain.
Here is a recent action photograph of Rory McIlroy at the Memphis St. Jude Classic teeing off.
I photographed Rory McIlroy jogging off the 18th tee at TPC Southwind course in Memphis at the St. Jude Classic.
Blair Ball Photography 