• Open Championship, Day One

McIlroy and friends gear up for marathon, not sprint

Unlike at Congressional, Rory McIlroy will not be able to stride clear of the field this week © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Amateur Lewis cannot remember round of his life
  
• News: Bjorn free from memories of 2003 after opening 65
  
• Features: Lewis lives up to formidable golfing heritage
  
• News: McIlroy outshone by amazing amateur Lewis
  
• News: McIlroy proud of battling display after opening 71
  
• News: What They Said
  

If you were forced to compare Rory McIlroy's US Open triumph at Congressional to another recent sporting event, then perhaps Usain Bolt's victory in the 100 metres at the 2008 Olympic Games would be a parallel many would make.

McIlroy didn't start the tournament with his shoelaces undone, of course, but nonetheless rocketed out of the blocks and, sometime midway through the third round, was already the clear winner. The fourth round, then, was - figuratively if not literally - simply 18 holes of chest-slapping and saluting of the crowd.

If that was the case, then this week's Open Championship will be a whole different kettle of fish. It'll be a marathon, not a sprint, and the player that eventually comes out on top will quite possibly be the man who best deals with his fair share of bad breaks across the four days.

Thomas Bjorn is the early leader, the likeable Dane taking advantage of an early start to post a blistering round of 65 that even contained a bogey at the last. He was soon followed in by Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez - who promptly revealed he would mark the occasion with a visit to the merchandise stall and evening glass of Rioja.

Later in the evening, amateur Tom Lewis took advantage to tie with Bjorn, while former US Open champion made the leaderboard look a little more crowded as added the second 66 of the day. But all four will have reason to doubt whether they can keep such strong scoring throughout the rest of the competition.

Of the big names, many of whom teed off over an hour behind Bjorn, a level par round of 70 was nearer the mark. Ian Poulter (69) beat it, while Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler (70) all hit it on the nose. McIlroy and Luke Donald (71), meanwhile, were one shot off the pace. Bjorn is the pacesetter, then, but all the big names are packed ominously together and most players still believe level par will be a competitive total come Sunday evening.

"We talked to Ernie [Els, who shot 72] on the 11th tee and we're like, 'What's he [Bjorn] doing?! How is he six-under par?'" McIlroy, who now seems to be dealing with Bolt levels of expectation and anticipation, said after his round. "I don't feel as if I have to do that much differently. I just need to keep it tight, keep it on the fairway, hit a few greens and just take your birdies here and there. I feel like if you keep it around level par this week you're going to have a good chance."

Donald concurred, emphasising the club that could prove key over the course of this tournament - the putter. "It really could have been a very good round. 71 is still solid, but certainly could have been a little bit better if I'd have had the putter going," Donald said. "But hopefully some of those missed opportunities will be gained in the next few days."

After braving the conditions on Thursday morning - which oscillated from mild but blowy to heavy rain and gales and back again with alarming regularity - all the big names were talking about the need for patience, about accepting bad breaks when they come and dealing with them with a minimum of fuss.

It's about avoiding the mistakes, mental and physical, that see players shoot themselves out of contention on Thursday and Friday - before a tournament such as this has even really got going. The aim is to be in contention on Sunday, nicely positioned for the inevitable sprint finish. Rickie Fowler perhaps summed it up best.

"The expectations coming in were to play well and to put myself in contention on Sunday, so that's still the same goal," Fowler said. "It's just focusing one day at a time and one shot at a time. It's as simple as that. One day at a time. One shot at a time, hit the fairway, hit the green, make birdies and you win. But it's not that easy."

Fowler knows all about that, having opened with a 79 at St Andrews last year yet still managing to finish in a tie for 14th (McIlroy, lest we forget, had an 80 on Friday yet still finished in third). On any links course, let alone one as undulating as Royal St George's, big scores are far easier to rack up than low ones.

"You can't win it the first day, but you can obviously put yourself pretty far behind," Fowler noted. The young American has clearly got the mindset down to a tee.

Over the next 54 holes we'll find out whether it is he, or another of the big names, that has the game down too. There will be no early celebrating this week in Sandwich, instead players will need to practice their dips for the line.

This one looks like it could go as far as a photo finish.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.