Marc Warren was literally and metaphorically “playing against the breeze” on the Old Course yesterday.
The strong afternoon wind made the back nine a proper Open examination, with Warren one of those who prospered to post a four under par 68.
The BBC didn’t pay much attention however, with only six of his blows (two of them tap-in putts) finding their way on to the live broadcast.
“It would be great if there was more coverage for Scottish players in general,” he said.
“I think that’s something that is lacking across the board.
“We definitely try and play better to try and get more coverage, but it seems as if we’re kind of against the breeze a little bit, shall we say, to put it nicely.
“It’s just one of those things. That’s something that’s totally out of my control. If I keep shooting and playing as well as I am just now, then if they want to show me, great, and if they don’t, then that’s fine, as well.”
One of the six shots that were shown was Warren’s impressive recovery from the Road Hole bunker that hit the pin to save par.
“We were actually saying if we could get in the bunker, a little bit back from the face, it wouldn’t be the worst place to be on 17,” he said.
“The lie was really nice and basically I just opened the club face as much as I could and hit it as hard as I could. Actually when I jumped back out of the bunker, I just saw it about two inches short and thought it was in.”
You pay your money and take your choice whether the best of the weather today is going to be in the morning, when rain is forecast and Warren is playing, or the afternoon, when the wind should pick up.
“Can you just let me enjoy this round first,” Warren joked.
“I haven’t even looked at a forecast. I’ve just heard it’s going to be Armageddon, but we’ve seen it all before.
“I’ve got an early tee time and hopefully the weather will be worse little bit later in the morning. Fingers crossed.”
On a good opening day for the Scots, Warren trailed Paul Lawrie by two.
He said: “Paul’s been kind of struggling a wee bit the last couple years, so it’s good to see him back. He obviously enjoys this championship.”
Sandy Lyle was next best after Warren on one under, with Russell Knox and Richie Ramsay both level.
A double-bogey seven on the 14th was Ramsay’s low-point.
He said: “It was tricky when the wind picked up, probably about 12 and 13 just when you don’t want it to.
“I made a fatal error on 14. My lay-up went in Hell Bunker and I had to go backwards. Then I three-putted.
“With a couple of putts holed I could have been three or four under, which would have been a good day’s work.
“The guys who went early obviously got a good run at it. That’s what I’ve got to do tomorrow morning take the shackles off and have a run at it.
“It was great playing the Old Course in an Open. I’m just a wee bit disappointed that I didn’t shoot the score I felt my play deserved.”
It had been looking like all six Scots would finish level par or better but Stephen Gallacher fell back from three under to a one over par finish.