Sergio Garcia shoots 65 to lead British Open

Sergio Garcia Thursday opened the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie with a round of 65 to lead the tournament at 6-under par.

Garcia, equipped with a new belly-putter meant, he said, to bring more consistency to his putting, had seven birdies on the day and one bogey. Five of his birdies came on the back nine.

A wet and windy day kept the course soft, and players scored reasonably well - especially the Europeans in the field.

Irishman Paul McGinley shot a 4-under 67 to claim sole share of second place in the clubhouse.

There is a logjam at 3-under par, including Austrian Markus Brier and U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera.

K.J. Choi, one of the hottest players on the PGA Tour right now, is at 2-under, four shots back.

And so is Tiger Woods. Woods briefly held the lead Thursday after an eagle at the par-5 6th. Put his putter slipped a bit on the back nine, and he bogeyed Nos. 12 and 13.

Other notable scores include Padraig Harrington at 2-under and Jim Furyk at 1-under.

Phil Mickelson couldn’t get much going on his round, and is at even par. Local favorite Colin Montgomerie struggled early and is at 2-over.

And in what was one of the stranger stories in the first round, John Daly briefly held the lead at 5-under-par before what has to be one of the most magnificent collapses in Open history. He played his last seven holes at eight over par, including a double-bogey at the par-4 12th and a triple on the par-5 13th. He is at 3-over-par.

Check back with WorldGolf.com for continuing coverage of the 2007 British Open.