British Open 2012 Leaderboard: Favorites Who Are in Charge After Round 1

The first round at the Open Championship is in the books, and a few favorites put themselves in position for success at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club.

The conditions in Lancashire were surprisingly friendly for much of the day and several players took advantage of the kind weather.

The Golf Channel’s preview of the course notes that there are 206 bunkers, which is more than any other venue where the British Open is held.

With all these hazards, players who drive the ball had a serious advantage for this tournament and that was reflected in the first round of play. Here are the favorites who did well on the first day.

Adam Scott (-6)

The Aussie is leading after the first day and played the first 18 holes extremely well.

He had eight birdies in the first round and his score of 64 is tied for the best ever mark at an Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes, as noted by Sports IIlustrated’s Alan Shipnuck.

This course favors his skill set and Scott has been playing with plenty of confidence in the past two years.

His Round 1 score just may give him enough bravado to keep command of the leaderboard through Sunday.

Zach Johnson (-5)

Johnson may not have the powerful drive of some other golfers near the top of the leaderboard, but his quiet consistency is ideal for this mentally taxing course.

With so many bunkers, it is easy for frustration to derail a golfer’s tournament, but Johnson was unflappable in the opening round.

He hit seven birdies and just two bogeys to say right on Scott’s heels.

Pressure will not faze him, and Johnson is a cool customer who will stay right with the leaders during the weekend.

Tiger Woods (-3)

When Woods is on top of his game, no one drives the ball better than he does, and no golfer is as intensely focused as the former world No. 1.

But since the scandal involving his marital infidelity broke, he has not been at his best. After three PGA tournament wins in 2012, he's shown signs that he may be returning to his old form.

If Woods emerges as the player he once was, no participant in the Open Championship can beat him.

Just like at the U.S. Open, he has started the tournament well. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if he can finish the job this time around.

Day 1 Leaderboard

Position	Player	Score
1	Adam Scott	-6
T2	Nicolas Colsaerts	-5
T2	Paul Lawrie	-5
T2	Zach Johnson	-5
5	Brandt Snedeker	-4
T6	Toshinori Muto	-3
T6	Rory McIlroy	-3
T6	Steve Stricker	-3
T6	Peter Hanson	-3
T6	Ernie Els	-3

Courtesy of ESPN.com.