Tom Watson proved yet again here Thursday that he is the master of links golf by rolling back the years with a five-under 65 to take the early first round lead in the British Open.
Two months short of his 60th birthday, the American, who dominated world golf in the 1970s and 1980s, produced a near flawless display on the same par-70 Aisla course on which he defeated Jack Nicklaus in the fabled Duel in the Sun 22 years ago.
On that occasion he opened with a 68, three more than he shot on Thursday.
Watson had five birdies and no bogeys on his card by the time he sunk a five-footer for par at the last to earn one of the earliest standing ovations ever at the Open.
"I played very well, kept the ball in play but the golf course was defenceless," he said alluding to the perfect, windless conditions that greeted the early starters in the 138th Open.
"I try not to live in the past, but a lot of the kids playing in the tournament were not even born in 1977.
"Still I have a chance to do well this week."
Watson returned to the clubhouse with the early lead, one shot ahead of the equally unexpected John Senden, an Australian who only made it into the Open field on Tuesday when India's Jeev Milkha Singh withdrew due to injury.
Senden had finished his round at the John Deere Classic in Illinois on Sunday with no intention of travelling to Scotland as he was only fourth reserve.
But when he woke up on Monday he was astonished to learn he had moved up to first reserve and he had to scramble a flight to get to Turnberry. On arrival in Glasgow he had a text message from his caddie telling him that he was in.
"I've got to be happy," he said. "I drove the ball well, putted solid, kept the momentum going and had a strong finish. I need to regroup for tomorrow."
Level with Senden was Steve Stricker of the United States, who had six birdies and two bogeys in his 66, and Camilo Villegas of Colombia.
Watson was not the only golden oldie to shine once more.
Former Open winners Mark O'Meara and Mark Calcavecchia both carded three-under 67s to put themselves firmly back in the picture.
The 49-year-old Calcavecchia, who will join the seniors tour next year, won his only major at nearby Troon in 1989 and once again he seemed inspired by the the sight of an Ayrshire links.
Playing in the lead group with a 6:30 am tee-off time, he went out in one-under 34 and then added birdies at the 11th and 17th to come in with a three-under 67 on an Ailsa course made vulnerable by the perfect conditions.
"Early does not bother me. I was ready to go at five," said Calcavecchia, whose wife Brenda was caddying for him.
"I hate to say it was easy, Turnberry is a tough course, but if you are going to shoot a good score out there, today was the day to do it. The weather was perfect."
World number one and tournament favourite Tiger Woods made a steady start with a birdie at the second cancelled by a bogey at the third where he drove the ball into deep rough and then overshot the green with his approach.
A second birdie at the par-five seventh saw the American, who was playing in the morning's marquee grouping with 17-year-old Japanese prodigy Ryo Ishikawa and top European hope Lee Westwood, reach the turn in one-under 34.
His waywardness off the tee though cost him shots at the 10th and 15th sandwiched around a birdie at the 11th as he fell to even par through 15 holes.
Woods was looking to follow in the footsteps of Watson (1977), Greg Norman (1986) and Nick Price (1994), the three previous winners over the Ailsa course, arguably the most scenic of the nine layouts currently on the Open rotation.
The world number one is looking for his fourth Open win after St Andrews in 2000 and 2005 and Hoylake in 2006 and his 15th major in total to close in on the all-time record of 18 held by Jack Nicklaus.
The in-form Westwood produced the best start of the day with birdies at the first three holes before missing a four-footer for another one at the fourth.
The Englishman dropped back to two under though when he bogeyed the par-five seventh, but picked up birdies at the 12th and 15th to get back to four under. There was to be no repeat of last year's heroics from Austalian veteran Greg Norman who came in with a 77 that leaves him with a mountain to climb just to make the cut.
Ireland's Padraig Harrington had an afternoon tee-time as he set out in his bid to become the first golfer since Australian Peter Thomson in 1956 to win three Opens in a row.
