Australia’s Adam Scott flirted with golfing history in the first round of the British Open at Royal Lytham yesterday before settling for a six-under par 64 and the clubhouse lead.

The 31-year-old from Adelaide, seen as one of the best players currently not to have won a major title, came to the last needing a birdie to become the first player in the long history of the majors to record a 62.