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Australia's Adam Scott lead on 6-under 64 after the first round of the 141st Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
Nicolas Colsaerts, Paul Lawrie and Zack Johnson are at five under and the lone man at four under is the American Brandt Snedeker.
Ernie Els, Tiger Woods, Rory Mcilroy, Graeme McDowell and Bubba Watson all on 3-under 67.
Scott said he was happy to have cashed in on the benign conditions.
Of the 14 other South Africans in the field, Thomas Aiken and Jbe Kruger both shot 2-under 68 and Richard Sterne and Charl Schwartzel one-under 69.
Louis Oosthuizen struggled with his putting for a 2-over 72 and Fancourt's Branden Grace had a 73
