ST ANDREWS (Scotland), July 14: Tiger Woods took a major step towards winning his second Open title when he fired a sizzling six-under 66 here on Thursday. It put him two shots clear of an army of players including Retief Goosen, Luke Donald, Jose Maria Olazabal, Scott Verplank and Peter Lonard.

Five years ago the world number one won here in spectacular style - finishing 19-under par and eight shots clear of his nearest rivals.

His first round in 2000 was 67. With his new swing, developed over the past 18 months, he went one better on Thursday.

“I am very happy. Even though I had it going and finished 7-under through 12 holes, but finishing at six is a great start to the tournament, I’m very pleased with the way I played all day,” beamed Woods.

“I feel very comfortable out there.”

Five years ago Woods went all four rounds without catching a single bunker.

On Thursday he went into three but still shot his 66. It was an ominous warning to the chasing pack.

Woods made the most of the easier conditions in the morning. The week’s blazing sunshine, that had made St Andrews Bay look more like the Cote D’Azur, had vanished when the first group teed off at 6.30. Instead it was overcast, breezy and with light sprinkles of rain.

Goosen complained after his round that he was not happy the way he was hitting the ball despite carding a four-under 68.

There were no complaints from two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, who only got to St Andrews when Seve Ballesteros pulled out.

England’s Luke Donald, Europe’s best hope of a winner, was able to handle the crowds watching his playing partner Jack Nicklaus compete in his last tournament.

Lonard managed to hold his game together despite going on a rollercoaster of a round that included a couple of double bogeys, an eagle and seven birdies.

Ernie Els, trying to make amends for losing in a playoff at Troon last year, found himself struggling on the way home after reaching the turn at one-under.

Three straight bogeys saw him slump to two-over by the time he reached the 15th tee.

Phil Mickelson got himself to two-under after nine, but as the winds picked up in the afternoon he was struggling to hold on.

Leading first round scores

66 - Tiger Woods

68 - Retief Goosen, Luke Donald, Peter Lonard, Jose Maria Olazabal, Scott Verplank, Chris Riley, Eric Ramsay, Tino Schuster, Trevor Immelman

69 - Thomas Levet, Bart Bryant, Bob Tway, Michael Campbell, Simon Khan

70 - Simon Dyson), Mark Calcavecchia, Peter Baker, Robert Allenby, Adam Scott, Ian Poulter

71 - Kenny Perry, Tim Clark, Charles Howell, Mark O’Meara, Colin Montgomerie, Geoff Ogilvy, Bernhard Langer, Ignacio Garrido, Steve Webster

72 - Rory Sabbatini, Peter Hanson, Soren Hansen, Paul Lawrie, Thomas Bjorn ), Euan Walters, Richard Green, Ted Purdy, Greg Norman

73 - Lloyd Saltman, Jean-Francois Remesy, SK Ho, Tim Herron, Sean O’Hair, Oscar Floren), Murray Urquhart, David Smail, Scott Hend, Robert Rock, Darren Clarke, Nick O’Hern

74 - Sandy Lyle, Rich Beem, Jerry Kelly,

Todd Hamilton, Scott Drummond, David Toms, Patrik Sjoland, Danny Chia, Douglas McGuigan, Andre Bossert, David Diaz, Duffy Waldorf, Peter Lawrie, Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Rod Pampling, Joe Ogilvie, Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson

75 - Shaun Micheel, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Stephen Dodd, Toru Taniguchi, Davis Love, Angel Cabrera, Stephen Gallacher, Lars Brovold, John Bickerton, Mardan Mamat, Matthew Richardson, Paul Casey, Chris DiMarco

76 - Lee Westwood, Andrew Oldcorn, Stewart Cink, Stephen Ames, Charl Schwartzel, Yang Yong-Eun, Nick Price

77 - Brian Davis, Alastair Forsyth, Zach Johnson, Andrew Butterfield, Tim Petrovic, Fred Funk

78 - Marcus Fraser, Craig Parry, Brian McElhinney, Chad Campbell

79 - Joe Durant, Tom Byrum, Tony Jacklin

81 - Peter Oakley, Wilhelm Schauman, Chris Campbell

83 - Richard Moir.—AFP