Golden Oldies Smyth and Lyle lead way
At the age of 49, and suffering the effects of a bizarre injury that nearly caused him to withdraw before the start of The Open, Ireland's Des Smyth today claimed a share of the clubhouse lead with Sandy Lyle.
Smyth, already looking forward to playing on the European Seniors Tour next year, recovered from a dropped shot at the first to card a three-under-par 68 that could have been one better had he sunk a 10ft eagle putt at the 17th.
It was a remarkable performance considering that Smyth had been in agony 36 hours before coming to the opening round.
Having flown to Scotland on Monday, he played a practice round and then decided to take a nap in his hire car while waiting for a friend.
Smyth, hoping to be chosen as Europe's captain when The K Club in Dublin hosts the Ryder Cup in 2006, explained: "I did a stupid thing.
"I rolled the seat back and lay there with one leg hooked over the steering wheel, and the other on the dashboard.
"That night I was very uncomfortable in bed, and when I woke I had pains in my back and down one leg.
"I could only hobble to the course where the physios said a joint was pressing against a nerve, and that was what was causing the pain.
"They told me I shouldn't play in The Open. But at my age I take my own advice!
"I had a lot of treatment and when I woke at 5am today I felt a lot better. But I never thought I'd play this well."
The Open was turning into a display case for the Golden Oldies.
Lyle, the 44-year-old Scot who won The Open way back in 1985, birdied the second after pitching to a foot for a simple tap-in, and the third hole where he sunk a difficult downhill putt from 14ft to go two under par.
Followed by a huge gallery supporting their home hero, Lyle bogeyed the fourth after finding the rough and then dropped another at the seventh to turn in 36. But a sensational three straight birdies finish raised a cheer that could be heard in nearly every corner of Muirfield.
Lyle said: "To finish with three birdies was a little special and a nice bonus, but the start was important.
"That is what sets the standards for the rest of the rest. If you start with a double bogey, which is easy to do, you can get frittery and a bit nervous."
He added: "My confidence is good, but you have to be very patient around here. The rough is so penalising."
Mark O'Meara, the 1998 champion, made a superb recovery after turning in two over. The 45-year-old hit four birdies in the last six holes to post a two-under-par 69.
