Qualifier Graeme McDowell fired a flawless six-under-par 66 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the British Open in Hoylake on Thursday with champion Tiger Woods [Images] lurking in a five-way tie for second place.

Briton McDowell reeled off three consecutive birdies from the ninth, where he holed out from a bunker, before finishing ahead of Woods, British duo Greg Owen and Anthony Wall, Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez and Keiichiro Fukabori of Japan [Images].

Twice winner Woods, who romped to a five-stroke victory at St. Andrews last year, holed a 20-foot eagle putt at the final hole to highlight a stirring recovery after he missed a two-and-a-half foot putt to bogey the first.

Ernie Els, the 2002 winner at Muirfield, American Jim Furyk and Spaniard Sergio Garcia were among a group of 13 bunched on 68 while Masters champion Phil Mickelson was a further stroke back, along with 13 others.

Woods, playing only his third tournament since the death of his father on May 3, found the left rough off the tee with a two-iron at the opening hole but birdied the fifth, ninth, 11th and 16th before signing off in style.

"I hit a terrible putt on the first hole and deserved bogey but six under is leading and we're right there in the ballgame with five," the world number one told reporters.

"I felt I stayed patient, continued hanging in there and didn't give shots away. Shooting 67 makes me feel good."

Northern Irishman McDowell could hardly keep the smile off his face after making the most of benign conditions at the north-west England [Images] seaside links.

PRETTY COOL

"That was pretty cool," the 26-year-old from Portrush said. "I didn't make any mistakes and I've set myself up well for the weekend.

"I feel like I've been getting very close to some of my top form and I'm hitting my irons as well as I ever have," added McDowell, who booked his Hoylake spot in last month's European leg of international qualifying at Sunningdale.

Els, determined to shake off a loss of form following a knee injury last season, wasted a chance to birdie the par-five last after being bunkered off the tee.

However, the three-times major winner rattled up six birdies and two bogeys to make his best Open start since shooting a 66 at St. Andrews in 2000.

"I didn't play the last hole very well but it's always nice to make a par-saving putt," the popular South African said.

"It's the first round of a major championship and you definitely don't want to shoot yourself out of it the first day."

American left-hander Mickelson, eager to banish memories of his final-hole meltdown in last month's US Open at Winged Foot, mixed four birdies with an eagle and three bogeys.

"I got off to a good start and was four under after 10 holes and playing well but I hit some poor shots coming in," said the world number two, who had been bidding for a third consecutive major title at Winged Foot before his late collapse.

ROCK HARD

Overnight rain took some of the sting out of a Royal Liverpool layout baked rock-hard after weeks of unrelenting sunshine, yielding a glut of birdies and several eagles.

Englishman Owen, who led the 2001 Open at Royal Lytham after 35 holes, was one of the first to take advantage as he reeled off six birdies and a bogey.

"I was very calm out there and played really well," he said after picking up shots on four of the last six holes.

"I think I've learned to stay patient and just trust what I do. If the golf gods are in my favour, then I'll be good enough to win."