British Open Live: Highlighting Unknown Players Who Performed the Best

Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson will dominate the headlines this weekend at the British Open from Royal Lytham, but a handful of relative unknowns showed the golfing world they have the game to compete for a major championship. 

Adam Scott is the clubhouse leader after Round 1, as he fired a blistering 6-under 64 this morning. Woods and McIlroy both shot respectable 67s, and Mickelson struggled with his ball striking en route to a disappointing 73. 

While we'll most certainly keep our eyes on the game's most recognizable and talented golfers, let's highlight the unknown players who handled Day 1 at the Open championship with great poise. 

Nicolas Colsaerts (-5)

The 29-year-old Belgian is far from a household name, but his opening round 65 didn't come out of absolute nowhere. 

He turned pro in 2000 and has two wins on the European Tour, the most recent coming in May of this year at the Volvo World Match Play Championships, when he beat major champion Graeme McDowell in the final. 

The smooth ball-striker has a lot of game, and if the putter's on, he clearly is capable of going extremely low. 

He eagled the Par 4 second hole and after a bogey at the next, he birdied No. 7 and No. 9 to shoot 31 on the front. 

Birdies on No. 12 and No. 15 led to a 34 on the back and have him one shot off the lead. Colsaerts hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation in Round 1. 

Toshinori Muto (-3)

Toshi-who? 

This 34-year-old golfer is an unknown in America, but he's experienced a solid career on the Japan Golf Tour. 

He's won there four times since 2006, the most recent win coming last year at the Dunlop Phoenix. 

Muto has never played in the Masters, U.S. Open or PGA Championship, but has played in the British Open twice: in 2006 and 2007. On both occasions he failed to make the cut. 

The front nine at Royal Lytham is much easier than the closing nine, and Muto certainly took advantage of that, firing a 31 to start this year's Open. 

A birdie at the par-5 11th got Muto to four under, but a bogey at No. 14 stopped his momentum. 

Scott Pinckney (-2)

This former Arizona State Sun Devil is making his first appearance at the British Open and second appearance in a major championship (2011 U.S. Open). 

He's friends with Rory McIlroy, as the two met in Miami while playing the junior circuit as young boys. Said Pinckney:

"

“We became really good friends after that. We played a practice round together then took each other on at table football and other games, and our friendship just grew from there. Our two families also got to know each other quite well, and they’ve since developed a pretty close relationship.”

"

(via EuropeanTour.com)

The 23-year-old turned professional in 2011, but has no professional wins to his name. His first round was a roller coaster, with six birdies, two bogeys and one double. 

He's the definition of a long-shot. 

Jbe' Kruger (-2)

Kruger is a South African golfer who's a member of the European Tour. 

He's 26 years old and turned professional in 2007. A guy that's entering the prime of his career, Kruger won the European Tour's Avantha Masters in India this February. 

Like the others on this list, he fired a 31 on the easier front nine, but back-to-back bogies on No. 16 and No. 17 led to a one-over 37 on the back. 

Anirban Lahiri (-2)

Lahiri isn't a recognizable name in the states, but he's quite the accomplished Indian golfer. In 2009, he won two events and the Order of Merit on the Professional Golf Tour of India. 

The 25-year-old also has two victories on the Asian Tour. 

He is making his major championship debut at the British Open.

Lahiri was more steady during his opening round on Thursday. He shot a solid 33 on the front nine at Royal Lytham and scrambled to fire a 35 on the back nine.