HOYLAKE, 21 July 2006 — First blood to Europe, although the quickening pulse says there is so much to come. Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell leads the way on six-under, with three fellow Euros in behind him. But the galacticos also moved ominously into formation, especially Tiger Woods whose punch on the last after a 67 confirmed that this is a leaderboard to sigh for.

But saying that, McDowell should not be gasping with terror, and neither should the rest of the home hopes. There are enough here in contention to exude utter confidence that the seven-year major drought could be about to end, what with Sergio Garcia on four-under and Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood on three-under.

Together with Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez and two largely unknown Englishmen in Greg Owen and Anthony Wall on five-under, these posted the start Europe had dreamed of.

It was another unheralded of England having the biggest laugh here last night, however. What a comeback to the elite it was that Hoylake Golf Club enjoyed after 39 years in the wilderness. So much for all the questions concerned with this forgotten links’ ability to keep up with the modern professional. In fact, the only query floating in the tension-charged air here was why they had been away for so long.

The run-up to this Open was dominated by talk of the modern professional having this forgotten links for breakfast. Well, it was ready for just that as the field eventually set out after a 30-minute thunder delay. The overnight storm had softened up its fairways and greens as much as it had its challenge and with not a breeze to ruffle even the flariest trouser leg it was surely there for taking.

Think again. The early starters took what they could but it was never enough to expose the jewel of the Wirral whose subtleties became more and more apparent as the morning got longer. By lunchtime, the most anyone had lowered par by was five shots - Owen and Wall - and although a veritable phalanx were on four-under as they trooped off the 18th this seemed to strengthen the 7,258-yard layout’s standing even more. Nobody, yet nobody, was finding it a pushover and with the drying conditions certain to make it harder nobody was likely to.

When McDowell broke into the world’s top 50 last year, the big time beckoned but he has strangely backed away from it so quickly since, that he had to go through qualifying just to get here.

As he waltzed around The Wirral that seemed absurd; his 66 being the only card minus a bogey. Perhaps it was the thought of Fred Daly, the only Irish major winner, having triumphed here 59 years ago which inspired him.

Last year the 34-year-old from Mansfield was back at his home in Florida seething after the Royal & Ancient had denied him a berth at St Andrews he was adamant was his. After a complex qualification rumpus, Owen was the injured party and announced so, accusing the august body of sipping “glasses of port” and “making the laws up as they go along.” Recently Owen has calmed somewhat, although that is probably down to the fact that this time the port-sippers’ red tape assisted his entry when a qualifying event in Washington was rained off and the top-placed competitors in the world rankings were thus chosen.

A move to the PGA Tour two years ago has made sure of it as he has flown up both the ranking and earning charts. It has not all been sweetness and dollars, though. In March a three putt from four feet on the 17th denied him the prestigious Bay Hill Invitational and when the bulging discs he required surgery on three years ago acted up yet again he feared another July week of frustration. There were a few golfing galacticos in behind who think they know why; Woods for sure after mustering every ounce of his genius to sneak one clear of Ernie Els and two clear of Phil Mickelson. It was a round he started badly and finished with an eagle on the last. And in between there were enough moments of magic to scream that he is indeed the force he was before his father’s death three months ago. Yes, Tiger’s back, Hoylake’s back and who knows the claret jug could soon be back. After yesterday, this tournament promises everything.