The 146th Open Championship gets underway this morning.
Mark O’Meara – who won at Royal Birkdale in 1998 – is first to tee off at 6.35 this morning.
Darren Clarke is the first Irish player out, teeing off at 9.25.
Padraig Harrington lifted the Claret Jug when the famous old tournament last visited the Southport course, and goes out in the group immediately after Clarke’s.
Shane Lowry’s another morning starter, taking to the course at 10.20.
While out-of-form Rory McIlroy remains convinced he’s just one round from turning his year around – he’s out just before ten-to-3 in a group that also contains world number one Dustin Johnson.
