Watson the star turn as Jiminez shines

Two months short of his 60th birthday, the five-time Open champion made a dream start to what he insists is not simply a trip down memory lane this week.

After his superb 65, Watson - set to be the oldest player ever to lead a major at the end of a full round until Jimenez birdied the last two holes - said: "I feel that I'm playing well enough to win. I feel inspired playing here."

Padraig Harrington, meanwhile, began his bid for the first Open hat-trick since Peter Thomson in 1956 with a 69 - a big step in the right direction after five successive missed cuts on the European and American tours.

Playing partner Sergio Garcia, who shot a level-par 70, called Watson's display "awesome" and needless to say 16-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero, the third member of the group and the youngest-ever British amateur champion, was blown away by it too.

"I wish I had his putting stroke," said Watson. He knows that, as in 1994 when he fell back to 11th, it is the club most likely to let him down.

Not in the opening round, though. After an eight-footer went in on the first he holed from 20 feet at the third, 12 on the 10th and then eight again on the 12th and 17th.

Watson's 65 was matched by 2003 champion Ben Curtis.

The American, 396th in the world six years ago when he became the first debutant to take the title since Watson at Carnoustie in 1975, now stands 27th in the rankings and four birdies in the last six holes made him the second player to shoot 65. Paul Casey, Lee Westwood, David Howell and Graeme McDowell had hopes of at least matching that after flying starts, but all four finished with 68s.

The group on four under, meanwhile, included Australian John Senden and, with three holes to play, Swede Fredrik Jacobson. A week ago Senden was only the seventh reserve for the event and it was only on arriving from Texas on Tuesday that Jeev Milkha Singh's side muscle injury let him in.