Watson grabs spotlight as Jimenez sets pace

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - Tom Watson, the oldest player in the field, spectacularly rolled back the years with an inspired display commanding the spotlight at the British Open on Thursday.

Taking advantage of ideal scoring conditions on the Ailsa Course, the 59-year-old fired a flawless five-under-par 65 to end the opening round a stroke behind pacesetting Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez.

While triple champion and heavy favourite Tiger Woods struggled to a 71, Watson produced the ball-striking and links-course creativity that helped him lift the prized Claret Jug on five occasions.

He covered the back nine in three-under 32 to finish level with fellow American Ben Curtis, the 2003 champion, and Japan's Kenichi Kuboya who ended his round with an explosive birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie run.

"She was defenceless today," Watson told reporters of the coastal layout. "The golf course played with no wind and it was an easy test, if you have an easy test in an Open championship.

"I feel inspired playing here, being in the presence of Turnberry again, just a culmination of a lot of things that have gone on already. I feel I'm playing well enough to win the golf tournament."

Thirty-two years ago, Watson outduelled Jack Nicklaus to win the first Open staged at Turnberry. On Wednesday, he received a timely good-luck text message from Nicklaus's wife Barbara.

Asked to explain why some of the older hands had flourished on Thursday, Watson replied: "We have an advantage.