Adrian Otaegui makes major move at Hoylake

Adrian Otaegui enjoyed his most successful round at a Major to be right at the business end of the leaderboard after day one of The 151st Open Championship.

The Spaniard 's 67 matched his lowest effort at one of golf's big four, while his four under par score was his best at a Major.

He turned in level par after starting with a bogey but roared home in 32, making six birdies in total, and was happy with his day's work.

"It was a good round for me today," he said. "I'm very happy with how everything went. 

"I didn't put myself in too much trouble. Just tried to be in the fairway as much as I could, so I took many fairways, many greens in regulation.

"Even though sometimes you end up far from the hole, the green is always a good place.

"I'm very pleased with my back nine as well, with four birdies. Very pleased with my four under today."

A nasty lie off the tee led to his bogey on the first but he got up and down from the sand at the par-five fifth and holed a 23-footer on the next before giving a shot back on the seventh.

Another long putt on the 12th was followed by a smart approach to the 13th and, after he took advantage of the par-five 15th, he completed the set on the long holes with a two-putt on the last.

"I think the first putt that I holed on number six was very good," he said. "It was a very good roll and obviously it's good to see the ball going in. It gives you a little bit of confidence for the next few long putts. I think that was a good one.

"To be honest, after that I felt very confident and comfortable with my swing. I was driving the ball well. I was in a good position on many occasions.

"I think when we teed off, I would say it was like a one-club wind and now when we finished it was really a two-club wind.

"The 16th, second shot was really a lot of wind. That was a good three iron, as well. It was getting a little bit windier."