British Open 2012 Leaderboard: Biggest Round 1 Surprises

Thomas Aiken and Jamie Donaldson are just some of the unfamiliar names at the top of the 2012 British Open leaderboard as the first round of play from Royal Lytham & St. Annes continues Thursday.

There have been several big surprises early on, including a past Open Championship winner who looks to be rejuvenated more than a decade after claiming the Claret Jug.

In addition, a surging Tiger Woods leads a handful of players who are beginning to distance themselves from the pack.

Here are the biggest surprises from Round 1 so far.

Adam Scott

The biggest surprise early on at the 2012 British Open was by far Australian golfer Adam Scott, who went on a tear after bogeying the third hole. The 32-year-old has yet to win a major and has never truly been in the mix late at the Open Championship in the past.

Scott's best finish at the British Open came in 2006, when he finished tied for eighth place at Royal Liverpool. The Aussie has made the next three rounds that much easier, though, having shot a 64 on Thursday, six-under par heading into Round 2.

Zach Johnson

American Zach Johnson has emerged as a legitimate threat to win the Claret Jug early on at the Open Championship, capitalizing on birdie opportunities and avoiding costly errors. The 2007 Masters champion has never finished in the top 10 at the British Open, his best result coming last year when he tied for 16th.

Johnson is clearly capable of winning major tournaments, but he has lacked consistency and will be hard-pressed to hold onto his current position as the Open wears on. 

Paul Lawrie

Scottish golfer Paul Lawrie got off to a blazing start on Thursday, shooting three birdies within the first five holes. Lawrie actually won the British Open in 1999 in a playoff. That win remains the only major win of Lawrie's career, though, which makes his fast start at Royal Lytham a surprise. 

Lawrie shot a first-round 65, which puts him five strokes under par heading into the final 54 holes of golf this weekend. He's been there before, so don't expect Lawrie to fade away by the time the later rounds arrive on Saturday. 

2012 British Open Top 10 Leaderboard (Courtesy of TheOpen.com):

Pos.	Player	Score	Hole
1	Adam Scott	-6	F
T2	Paul Lawrie	-5	F
T2	Zach Johnson	-5	F
4	Graeme McDowell	-4	16
T5	Tiger Woods	-3	15
T5	Bubba Watson	-3	17
T5	Thomas Aiken	-3	12
T5	Scott Pinckney	-3	7
T5	Ernie Els	-3	F
T10	Jamie Donaldson	-2	F

Click Here for an Updated Leaderboard