British Open Update: Is that John Daly atop the leaderboard?

I had to refresh my computer several times, just to see if it was really true: John Daly is at the top of the leaderboard midway through the first round of the British Open, at 5-under-par.

Mr. Trailer Park himself. The man more comfortable with a cold one in his hand than a golf club.

Not today, it seems. He’s lighting the course up through 11 holes: Birdies on Nos. 5,6 and 10 and he has just holed out on the par-4 11th for an eagle 2.

Daly has done well to become one of golf’s laughingstocks - so well, in fact, that not only is it a complete surprise when he does contend for a title these days, but it takes a Herculean effort to remember that he has won this event once before, in 1995 (to go along with his 1991 PGA Championship win).

This is a two-time major winner we’re talking about. In that respect, Long John - talking about his driver here, folks - has it over any number of PGA Tour stars out there that can never close the deal at the biggest tournaments.

This year, Daly has made 5 cuts in 15 starts, and his scoring average is hovering right around 72. He’s 165th on the money list, and now the first image that comes to mind upon hearing his name is not that of Daly hoisting a trophy, but of Daly coping a feel on some drunk blonde while dancing in his trailer.

Daly’s tale is a sad one, and one ripe for the kind of comeback storyline a British Open win could kick off.

I’m not going to get ahead of myself here. He’s at 5-under through 11 holes. Yeah, he’s leading…for now. There’s a lot of golf left in this one, and a long time between today and Sunday.

But consider how the other majors have gone this year, and ask yourself whether Daly wouldn’t fit into the pattern of no-name journeymen coming out of nowhere to win the big titles. We’ve seen it already at the Masters and the U.S. Open.

In this case, our journeyman is a two-time major winner who’s been on a very strange trip. Still, a Daly win at Carnoustie might seem to come out of some place way beyond left field.

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Irishman Paul McGinley is in the clubhouse at 4-under after an opening round 67. Former U.S. Open Champion Michael Campbell (see above, reference: no-name) is part of a group at 3-under that includes Austrian Markus Brier and K.J. Choi.

Tiger Woods is in the clubhouse at 2-under, after a serviceable 69.

Where on Earth is Phil Mickelson? At 1-over through five.