Watson grabs spotlight as Jimenez sets pace

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 favorite 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 defenseless 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 outdueled 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.

"The pros don't play links golf except in the Open championships or the Senior Open championships. We've played under these conditions and we kind of get a feel for it and that feel is worth its weight in gold when you're playing."

The pony-tailed Jimenez, a 15-times winner on the European Tour, stole Watson's thunder late in the day with a birdie-birdie finish capping a bogey-free 64.

CELEBRATORY CIGAR

"If I remember right, this was my best start in a major," the 45-year-old Spaniard said as he smoked a celebratory cigar after draining a 60-foot putt on the 18th green.

Asked if he felt any guilt after dislodging Watson from the top of the leaderboard, Jimenez replied: "No, he's going to be a legend forever. Tom Watson is one of the guys you still have to look at, keep looking for.

"We have to feel very proud to play with him, still playing at the level he plays."

Curtis, shock Open champion at Royal St George's in 2003 when he began the tournament as a 300-1 outsider, surged up the leaderboard with an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys.

"Any time you can shoot a red number in a major is a good thing, no matter what the conditions are like," the 32-year-old said. "It was pretty ideal out there. You just had to take advantage of it and I did."

Australian John Senden, a late addition to the field after the withdrawal of Indian Jeev Milkha Singh on Tuesday due to a rib injury, birdied four of the last six holes for a 66.

Also at four under were in-form Steve Stricker, who has won twice on the PGA Tour in his last four starts, fellow American Stewart Cink, Australian Mathew Goggin and Colombia's Camilo Villegas.

Padraig Harrington of Ireland, who is seeking a rare British Open hat-trick, launched his title defense with a 69.

Woods had a day to forget as he pushed several shots to the right and three times hurled a club to the ground in frustration.

"I certainly made a few mistakes out there today," the 33-year-old said after carding four bogeys and three birdies.

"Realistically I probably should have shot about one or two under par. Hopefully tomorrow I can play a little better, clean it up and put myself headed in the right direction."

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)