Turnberry beers are on Calcavecchia after opening 67

By Tony Jimenez

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - Mark Calcavecchia, who likes to down a beer or two as an antidote to niggling back pain, raised his glass to an opening three-under-par 67 in the British Open first round on Thursday.

The American entertained thoughts of pulling out of the third major of the season when he struggled to play 36 holes in a day at the weather-interrupted John Deere Classic on Sunday.

"My back is an issue," Calcavecchia told reporters at Turnberry. "I don't think anybody would have even finished, the way I felt on Sunday.

"Once I got done I had a few Aleve (painkillers) and a couple of beers and I was okay. I then got on the plane and several more beers went flowing down and the next thing you know we were landing.

"I was pretty much in full-blown spasm the entire second 18 on Sunday so that hurt me. But I took Monday off, played Tuesday, took yesterday off and felt good and rested," added Calcavecchia.

The 49-year-old, who won the 1989 edition at nearby Royal Troon, said it was his love for the British Open that encouraged him to travel in his fragile condition.

"I am here because I love playing this tournament," said Calcavecchia. "It is my favourite.

"I was contemplating not coming, not seriously but it did cross my mind that if my back's going to feel this bad, why travel all the way over and put myself through that?