Open Championship gets underway

American Jerry Kelly began the 140th Open Championship with a bogey today - but that still represented a massive improvement on his last trip to Sandwich.

When the Open was last staged at Royal St George's in 2003, Kelly took 11 on the opening hole on his way to a first round of 86, with Tiger Woods also running up a seven on the same hole in wet and windy conditions.

Conditions were considerably calmer this morning as play got under way, although light rain was falling as Kelly, Australia's Nathan Green and England's Danny Willett teed off in the first group.

Kelly split the fairway with his drive, but his approach ran through to the back of the green, from where he took three putts to card a bogey five.

In contrast, Green had found heavy rough with his tee shot and needed a lucky bounce over a bunker with his second, but then chipped in across the full width of the green for a birdie. Willett two-putted from the back of the green for a par.

Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, second in 2003 after blowing a three-shot lead with four holes to play, was also among the early starters, while US Open champion and tournament favourite Rory McIlroy was due out at 9:09am alongside 2002 champion Ernie Els and American Rickie Fowler.