Brooks Koepka
"My game feels good, feels sharp but short game feels good, long game feels good, and it's nice to get back playing.
"Sometimes golf can get a bit boring but I see so many shots out here that keep it interesting."
Is Links golf your favourite?
"Yeh it is. It's the best style of golf you can play, you can do whatever you want. You can really get creative off the tee - there's so many options and I love it."
Interestingly, Butch Harmon has just revealed that Koepka doesn't even like golf!
The world number one is on it
Dustin Johnson is off to a good start, birdying the second. Or at least it was a good start but he's put his first shot on the third into a bunker.
Austin Connelly, who I haven't heard of until right now, is three under and has added his name to the top of the leaderboard, nestled just behind Justin Thomas.
Phil Mickelson is just wide of getting par on the first hole but won't miss the bogey tap-in.
Henrik Stenson says he wants to go sky diving with the Claret Jug
"I think I was pretty happy with the days work, it's not super easy out there. I could have made one or two more shots, a couple of errant shots, I paid the price for the bogey.
"It was a dream come true winning the Open last year and I've been very proud taking the Claret Jug around with me. If I ever win again it's going sky diving."
Mickelson's up
It's Phil Mickelson, here to get his day started on the par four first hole and his first shot is fine.
McIlroy's second shot on the second hole is much more like McIlroy and he could, if his putting helps him, birdie this one.
Kuchar has three birdies in a row now, which is not bad. Not bad at all.
Bad start for Rory
Oh dear.
What has happened to Rory McIlroy? This is his third shot... and he hits this way too hard, completely missing the green and landing down the hill. And then his attempted to chip - for par - doesn't even make it up the hill!
But then the real Rory comes out and he sinks a superb long range putt to rescue bogey. That's a good bogey, if such a thing exists.
Just to make things worse for him, Schwartzel gets a birdie.
Here comes Rory
It's time. Will Rory be on his game today? His first shot isn't great and he takes it left into the rough.
He's joined by Dustin Johnson and his tee shot lands just right of the fairway. Both players should be alright get a good second shot from there.
Charles Schwartzel completes the set and his lands not too far away from McIlroy.
Alex Noren has finished on two under and Matt Kuchar has rocketed to three under par after five holes, including this putt on fifth:
Koepka on the 17th
Matsuyama at -2 is the next to take on the eagle friendly 17th but he lands in the bunker before the green. Koepka should hit the green with his second shot too... but no! The ball slams into the grass and bounces into the bunker. That is less than ideal and follows a bogey on the previous shot.
Oooohhhh lordy. What a shot!
Koepka gets out of the sand and the green takes the ball straight into the hole for an eagle. Suddenly Koepka is back level with Spieth at -5!
Oosthuizen finishes with a horrible close range miss on the 18th and gets par instead of the birdie he should have had. His head has already gone though and at +8 he's going to need to do something incredible to get back into contention.
Spieth finishes -5
Great putt by Rickie Fowler to rescue par on the fifth. He sinks a really awkward medium-long range shot to keep himself at -1.
Si-Woo Kim finishes level par, Spieth sets the target by finishing five under and it's a lovely day in Birkdale now. The sun is out, the birds are singing, the golfers are golfing - a terrific day for all.
Meanwhile, Justin Thomas has made up for that earlier bogey with an eagle on the 17th! Stuart Manley and Thomas Pieters did the same thing earlier on.
Spieth saves par on 16
After that dreadful drive on 16, Spieth recovers to make par with an absolutely beautiful putt. Spieth reads the green perfectly and lets it roll the ball down into the hole, keeping him joint top.
James Hahn has moved to three under with a really tricky putt on 14 and is level with Ian Poulter. But watch out! Here comes Ernie Els, who has two birdies out of five holes. Could he?
Thomas Pieters was one over but sinks an eagle putt on 17 to make his round sound a lot better than it has been. It's funny how quickly that can swing.
Spieth on the 16th
Spietch and Koepka are still BATTLING it out for supremacy on the golf course at the moment on -4... but that might all change now as Spieth gets his drive all wrong on the 16th and sends the ball flying towards the crowd in the rough. Shouts of "fore!" all round and now the hunt begins. Incidentally, Stenson did pretty much exactly the same thing earlier.
This guy spends more time in the sand than David Hasselhoff
Oh dear oh dear oh dear. Justin Rose's ball is in the bunker on the 14th but a decent little chip will take him next to the pin. He doesn't get anything near enough on the shot, it lands at the lip of the hill and rolls slowly all the way back down and round to where Rose is standing.
He is unimpressed but recovers and makes sure the next hits the green... and then putts for bogey.
A new co-leader!
It's not going particularly well for old Tommy at the moment. He's four over and on the 13th hole. Two bogeys and a double bogey on the ninth have given the home boy (in that he used to play at Birkdale) a tough task.
At the other end of the leader board, Brooks Koepka has found his form on the last couple of holes, hitting three birdies in a row and moving to -4! He is now joint first with Jordan Spieth, who hits a birdie on 14th to also move to -4. Exciting stuff.
New co-leader!
Fine putt at 12 from a similar position to Rose by US Open champion Koepka, who with three birdies in a row has raced to three under.
Poulter meanwhile is "pretty happy", and describes the greens as "absolutely perfect". Can't ask for more than that.
I'm now signing off, leaving you in the more than capable hands of JJ Bull. Enjoy!
Garcia and Day teeing off
How's this for a trio at 13:04 - Masters champion Sergio Garcia alongside Zach Johnson and Jason Day.
Spieth from range can't sink his putt to get to -4 at the 13th. Stenson at the same hole is inches away from dropping to -2, making that his sixth par in a row.
Garcia in a bit of trouble out to the left after that drive.
Spieth unfazed
Spieth in a spot of bother and delivers something special, firing that to the back of the green at 13 after taking a drop.
Big cheer for Ernie Els as he birdies the first, the four-time Major winner getting a lot of love as ever.
Rose is desperately unlucky with a long birdie putt at 12 but has shown enough today to suggest he will be around for the long-haul at Royal Birkdale this weekend.
Poulter in the clubhouse at -3
Noren out of the bunker at 18 does very well, giving the Swede a good chance to par the last hole which he takes easily.
Poulter in a similar position also does well, slightly longer par putt for the co-leader but he gets it! Excellent first day for Poulter, carding a 67 to finish at -3.
Poulter's round coming to a close
Bogey at the last for Branden Grace to finish level par, although he'll take that after the conditions when he started his round this morning.
Spieth telling his back to shift along at 12 and gets that movement, giving him a birdie chance (although any time he gets on the green, it tends to be a chance). Stenson not as lucky, drifting off the back of the green with his drive. Kim outdoes them both, still going along nicely at even par.
Poulter hoping to finish with a par at the 18th after ending up in the bunker. Latest leaderboard below:
New co-leader!
Very good bunker shot from Poulter, getting a big cheer as he just misses out on an eagle. That's a birdie though to head to -3.
No such luck for Rose, who is back down to -1 at the start of the back nine. Hit the putt with some pace though which shows his confidence is high.
So close for Noren to an eagle, fading at the end, but he'll move to -2 there at 17 and duly does so.
Koepka ticking along
Rose working his way around the par four hoping to set up a par chance at the tenth, but he'll need a very good approach with his third shot. He gives himself a chance, although there is still a big gap.
US Open champion Brooks Koepka by the way is at -1 through the front nine, carrying on his good form.
Good end to the round for Fitzpatrick, who cards a 69 to finish on -1.
The leader recovers
Don't worry about Spieth - he has just knocked this up beautifully closest to the flag below to save his par.
Poulter may live to regret those missed chances on the back nine as he edges closer to the end of his opening round. Stenson still in touch as he pars the 10th, solid at -1.
Spieth's time?
Very, very early days of course, but here is a quicker reminder of Spieth's majors record since his last win, at the US Open in 2015:
2015 Open Championship - T4
2015 PGA - 2
2016 Masters - 2
2016 US Open - T37
2016 Open Championship - T30
2016 PGA - T13
2017 Masters - T11
2017 US Open - T37
2015 PGA - 2
2016 Masters - 2
2016 US Open - T37
2016 Open Championship - T30
2016 PGA - T13
2017 Masters - T11
2017 US Open - T37
"Wow, that was a mistake" is his reaction to his tee shot at the 10th. Away from Spieth, Rose pars the ninth after a good birdie chance to tie the lead.
Matsuyama back on track
Fine approach shots from Rose and Matsuyama, giving both players birdie chances there with the world number two Matusyama making no mistake to move to par.
Poulter still ticking along, another birdie chance there at 15 not falling his way. Here's video of that Plant birdie putt a few minutes ago - he has really caught the eye in the opening stages.
Tie backlash
Local hero Fleetwood is battling, moving to +2 at the sixth. Spieth at last gets to -2 with a birdie at eight - that has been coming for some time.
Good news too for Alfie Plant, back to -1 with a birdie.
Not everyone is buying the Justin Thomas shirt and tie combo. However he is back to -1.
Weather improving
Disappointment for Fitzpatrick at the 15th as he misses a birdie chance to tie the lead. Poulter meanwhile, unhappy with his tee strike at the 14th, chips back towards the green to give himself a shot at par.
Sense is that the afternoon groups will have the better of the conditions today, which is good news for the likes of Jason Day, Sergio Garcia, Rory McIllroy and Dustin Johnson.
Poulter finds his par to stick at -2 and has dug in well on this back nine. Fine shot from Rose at the par-three 7th - he will get a chance there to re-tie the lead.
Setback for Rose
Rose looked like his ball was at the bottom of the moors there, but he gets close enough to give himself a chance for par at the sixth. Long-range effort and he can't find the hole, leaving Manley and Poulter out on their won at the top.
Poulter slumps his shoulders after his tee shot at the 14th but that one is hardly horrendous, drifting beyond the back of the green.
Spieth again putting very well without any reward, that effort at the seventh trickling by the hole. It won't be long surely. Stenson recovers at the seventh meanwhile to go back to -1.
O'Meara into the clubhouse
Matsuyama overcooks his birdie approach ever so slightly and has to settle for par at the fifth. Bad news meanwhile for Stenson, who bogeys the sixth to drop back to level par.
Chance for Poulter at the 13th but he doesn't make the right contact, tapping for par without any issue though. He has undoubtedly had chances to extend the lead since turning onto the back nine. Second birdie of the day for Alex Noren of Sweden moves him back to -1.
Update from the bottom of the leaderboard, Mark O'Meara's day has mercifully come to an end. He cards an 81 for +11.
Rose ticking along
Problems for Stenson, who knocks his tee shot at the sixth way off line behind the crowd. Interesting to see where he comes up.
Rose pars to stay at -2 after five holes. Incredible to think it is nearly 20 years since he burst onto the golfing scene here at the age of 17.
Fitzpatrick then from absolutely miles out sinks this putt below to go to -1. Keep that up and he'll soon be leading. Wow.
Stenson off the mark
Stenson under par at last and Yikeun Chang joins him at -1 with a fine effort at the first.
Matsuyama meanwhile overcooks his effort out of the bunker, leaving him with plenty of work to do to make par. He can't find it, dropping back a shot.
Rose is then unlucky with the slope at the fifth as he watches his ball trickle past the hole into the bunker behind. Two par fives for Poulter at the 11th and 12th, which will irk him a little bit after that fine start to the round.
First Eagle of the tournament
Stuart Manley! His first championship and he's just chipped in for eagle out of the bunker at the 17th. Beaming grin on the Welshman and who can blame him.
That elevates him up the leaderboard to -1, one shot off the lead.
Holding steady
Plant drops back to level par, but the amateur has made a very fine start otherwise with four pars and a birdie.
Poulter holds firm with a par putt at 11, staying at -2 alongside Rose, who recovers at the fourth to set up a par putt. Matsuyama meanwhile falls slightly wide to the left with his birdie putt at the third but he has had a bright start.
While things are mildly quiet, here's a reminder of who are experts are backing to win it all this weekend.
New co-leader
Stenson still level par although not for a want of trying, coming up short on a birdie effort there at the fourth. No such issues, who moves to -2 as the joint leader with Poulter.
Daniel Zeqiri up at Royal Birkdale has noted Spieth's positive start:
"Reasons to be cheerful if you have your money on Spieth.
"The two-time major champion talked about not making enough putts this season, but looks to have the pace of these greens already.
"Superb long-range efforts at the first and fourth shaved the hole."
Steady from Stenson and Spieth
Thomas comes good with that birdie chance, moving to -1, as has world number two Matusyama as well as India's Anirban Lahiri.
Stenson can't quite curve a long-range birdie effort around at the second, meaning he'll stay at level par. Spieth surprisingly wobble a birdie putt around the cup. Looks in good touch though.
Poulter back on track and his third shot is superb at the 10th (below), leaving him well in position to pick up a par and to stay at -2.
Mixed bag for Poulter
Poulter after that birdie ends up some way out of range at the tenth with a bit of work to do. He has started the day very well, as our reporter Daniel Zeqiri notes from Royal Birkdale:
" That's an impressive front nine of 32 from Ian Poulter in the worst of the conditions.
"Finished second at Royal Birkdale in 2008 when it was blowing a gale, so he likes a tough slog. With two par-fives on the back nine a 66 is possible. "
Crowd behind Fleetwood, Poulter leads again
James Corrigan on that opening roar for Fleetwood at the first:
"The reception for Tommy Fleetwood on the first tee was the biggest of the morning so far. A lot of "g on, Tommy la".
"Looked relaxed enough but this is a whole new level of focus for the 26-year-old."
Poulter meanwhile punches the air after his birdie at the ninth puts him into the lead again at -2.
Birdies everywhere
As expected Rose capitalises, moving to -1. Stenson from the bunker gets up well near to the flag, leaving him with a straightforward effort for par which he delivers on.
Fitzpatrick coming back well after a shaky start, knocking this effort in from long-range to move back to par.
Spieth joins Rose on -1 with his birdie, making that four players under par currently out on the course.
Rose and Spieth warming up
No real problems for Stenson, Kim and Spieth off the tee at the second - well, aside from Spieth managing to connect with a spectator. Interesting to see where his ball comes up. He bounces back to give himself a birdie chance at the second.
Players noticeably wrapping up at Royal Birkdale, more as a result of the wind than the temperature.
Rose lands a sublime approach shot back at the first, right in position there to go under par. Meanwhile here's Poulter off the tee at the ninth, still tied at the top at -1.
Oosthuizen and Rose join the action
Fine birdie attempt from Kim, just fading slightly past the hole at the end. He and Spieth should be fine for par.
Stenson with the best chance of the lot... not far away at all. Par for the defending champions as Louis Oosthuizen and Justin Rose tee off back at the first.
Poulter at eight meanwhile can't move back to -2, coming up short with his birdie putt. He and Plant remain out infront.
Chance for Stenson
Fine putt below from Younghan Song at five, taking him back to level par. Russell Knox has done the same, taking himself back to par.
Quality approach shot at the first from Stenson, finding the edge of the green to give him a shot at an opening birdie. Spieth falls short of the green with his approach and I have not forgotten about Si-Woo Kim, the third player in this group. He hits the edge of the green to the right.
Poulter back to -1
Longish putt for Poulter at the seventh and he can't find it. Not a bad effort, but he drops a shot.
Big group about to tee off in Henrik Stenson and Jordan Spieth, the latter widely billed as the favourite for the tournament.
Stenson's touch in last year's Open was sublime and the defending champion will do well to recapture that form. Fine start however down onto the fairway, avoiding any trouble. Spieth rolls slightly off the edge but won't come into any bother there.
Padraig and Pieters in action
Padraig Harrington, Pat Perez and Thomas Pieters are all underway at the first. Harrington a back-to-back Open winner of course in 2007 and 2008. Lots of buzz around Pieters ahead of the tournament.
Poulter finds the bunker again, his third in a row, but is still out ahead at -2.
Tweet from John who makes a very good point about this group later on. I fancy Matsuyama to do some damage... (send any tweets to @bencoles_)
@bencoles_ tasty group Brooks K, Tommy F & Hideki M! These 3 cud be in the mix come Sunday!
Report from the course
Update from our man James Corrigan:
"Just come in after doing the early shift on the course and all I can say is the first hole - wow. Definitely proved itself as the hardest opening hole on the Open rota.
"The first 12 players through it were a combined 16-over. Much easier conditions now but the par four is still mightily difficult.
"The last 12 players through have taken seven bogeys between them."
Poulter still out in front
Poulter chipping out of the bunker at the sixth - not as close as he would like but he was working with a tricky angle.
A new face under par - amateur Alfie Plant, the 25-year-old from Bexleyheath who knocks in a birdie at the first. He must think this is a breeze.
The wind returns
Just when you thought the wind was gone... who are we kidding, Royal Birkdale's wind will never die. Tommy Fleetwood, the local hero heading into the tournament, is on at 10:09 by the way.
Life is not getting any easier by the way for Mark O'Meara. He is now +11. Ugh.
Big cheer unsurprisingly as Darren Clarke takes to the first tee, finding the fairway.
Poulter's early progress
Morning all, Ben Coles here taking you through the next couple of hours.
"Commit to the shot" cries Ian Poulter approaching the fourth, many people's outside tip for success this weekend. He does lead the way so far on -2.
Conditions mercifully have calmed down after the early morning's wind and rain, making you feel even more for Mark O'Meara after that horror show to fall to +10.
O'Meara has nightmare start to 2017 Open
Former champion Mark O'Meara had a nightmare start with a quadruple-bogey eight as he got the 146th Open Championship under way at Royal Birkdale in rainy and breezy conditions.
The 60-year-old, who won the second major of his career when the Open was staged at Birkdale in 1998, teed off at 6:35am alongside fellow American Ryan Moore and England's Chris Wood.
Players had enjoyed dry and sunny conditions on the Southport links until a thunderstorm blew in late Wednesday afternoon and forced the abandonment of practice.
Light rain greeted the players on the first tee on Thursday morning and O'Meara sliced his drive over the fence and out of bounds to the right of the fairway and then pulled his second attempt off the tee into a left-side bunker which eventually added up to an eight.
Wood, who finished fifth at Birkdale in 2008 and won the silver medal as leading amateur, made par with Moore taking six.
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