Cameron Young leads 150th Open after sparkling 64

Cameron Young produced a flawless 64 in his first-ever Open Championship round to establish a two-shot lead on the opening day of the 150th edition at St Andrews, while Rory McIlroy was not far behind him after making another strong start to a Major Championship.

With the morning starters taking advantage of benign conditions on Thursday, Young turned in 31 after making five birdies on the front side.

And he picked up three more shots coming down the stretch to keep his card clean and set the clubhouse target at eight under par.

No-one was able to catch Young at the summit, with four-time Major Champion McIlroy - another early starter - coming closest courtesy of his 66.

The 2014 Open Champion bookended his opening round with birdies, following up a stunning 55-footer at the first with a close-range effort on the 18th green.

Cameron Smith and late starter Robert Dinwiddie were a shot further back on five under, one clear of the large group containing Viktor Hovland, World Number One Scottie Scheffler and English amateur Barclay Brown.

Young picked up his first birdie of the day from 27 feet at the second before making it two in a row with a ten-foot putt on the third.

Further back-to-back birdies followed at the fifth and sixth courtesy of solid putts from inside ten feet.

And the 25-year-old closed his front nine with a close-range birdie at the ninth.

Young sent his tee-shot at the short 11th to 25 feet before rolling in the birdie putt, and he managed another at the 12th to get to seven under.

He continued to create good chances but was unable to convert at the 14th and 15th - three-putting the former before missing his 13-foot birdie putt on the next.

But he made no mistake on the 18th green, holing from seven feet to sign for a 64.

Although this is Young's Open debut, it is not his first visit to St Andrews, with a trip with his parents as a 13-year-old providing his first taste of the Old Course.

And he said being back there for his first Open was extra special.

"I came with my parents in 2010," said Young. "So I would have been 13. 

"I think we played eight or nine golf courses in six days. We played here, the New, the Old. We played Kingsbarns, Carnoustie, Gullane, Crail - I'm probably missing one or two.

"Any time you set foot on the first tee or 18th green or anywhere, especially on that part of the (Old) course, there's just no hiding how special of a place it is. 

"And it's certainly been a goal to get to an Open Championship. And for my first one to be here is a little bit extra special for me."

McIlroy has made a habit of getting off to a fast start at Majors, having led the 2022 US PGA Championship after 18 holes in May and sat in a tie for second at the same stage of last month's U.S. Open Championship.

The 33-year-old was in familiar territory again at St Andrews on Thursday, as seven birdies and a single bogey saw him reach six under par.

McIlroy, who is aiming to secure a fifth Major title this week - and his first since 2014 - wants to maintain his charge on day two.

He said: "I need to go out tomorrow and back up what I just did today. 

"I think that's important to do. 

"I've seen the golf course now in tournament play and tournament conditions and know what to expect."