Ames cards 74 in British Open

TROON: Britain’s Paul Casey and in-form Frenchman Thomas Levet took full advantage of near-perfect conditions at Royal Troon to set the pace in the British Open first round yesterday. Casey and Levet upstaged the likes of tournament favourites Ernie Els, world number one Tiger Woods and US Masters champion Phil Mickelson, firing five-under-par 66s on a relatively calm day of bright sunshine.

While 2002 winner Els (69), Woods (70), Mickelson (73) and most of the other challengers slipped backwards on Troon’s treacherous second nine, Casey and Levet finished strongly. Trinidad-born Canadian citizen Stephen Ames who two weeks ago beat the best to win the PGA Western Open at Cog Hill Golf Club, Lemont, Illinois, USA, managed only a three over-par 74 yesterday, to share 94th position.