A round-up of events at Carnoustie

McIlroy gets one over hero Woods in dream debut

It's not every day you get to beat your heroes.

Yesterday, in the almost surreal environment of the British Open, Rory McIlroy - "I'm a normal teenager, but I'm a pretty good golfer as well" - outscored Tiger Woods, whom McIlroy first saw on television when he was just seven and Woods was on the way to winning the US Amateur.

In that instant, the kid from Holywood with star appeal of his own was captivated. "It was all just 'Tiger, Tiger, Tiger' after that, and he's been my one big influence in my whole golfing life," attested McIlroy after marking his debut appearance in a major championship with a 68, three under par. Remarkably, it was the only bogey-free round.

While Woods has claimed 12 majors and racked up over €50 million in career earnings, McIlroy - who owes his presence here to his victory in last year's European Amateur championship - is playing for the honour and the glory. At least until he turns professional, which most likely will happen after the Walker Cup at Royal Co Down in September.

For now, McIlroy is living the dream. Yesterday he was grouped with Ryder Cup players Henrik Stenson and Miguel Angel Jimenez, and outplayed both. But as his eyes were occasionally drawn to the giant leaderboards, where some of his friends from Holywood Golf Club were working, McIlroy sought out Woods's name and revelled in the fact he was ahead of the world's number one.

It's days like these that McIlroy, who left school at 16 after completing his GCSE exams so he could play full-time, lives for.

"I'm knackered, but it is just a pretty special feeling to say you shot one better than Tiger. I don't think I'll have any trouble sleeping tonight."

McIlroy earned his place here almost 10 months ago. The wait has been worth every minute.

"I was very nervous on the first tee and for the first couple of holes. I didn't hit a fairway until the fifth, then I just got into my rhythm, got into my stride."

The round featured three birdies and 15 pars. His only disappointment was that he failed to birdie either of the par fives, three-putting the sixth after shaving the hole with his eagle attempt and then missing a six-footer for birdie on the 14th. But those blips were excusable.

The rest of his golf was sublime, and he didn't look out of place among the world's great players.

"I wanted to come here, try to make the cut and win the silver medal (as leading amateur)," said McIlroy, who has opened up quite a gap on the other amateurs in the field.

Cink puts Irish links experience to good use

Stewart Cink took a leaf out of Woods's old book and spent a few days in Ireland playing links golf - at The European Club and Baltray - ahead of his latest attempt to land the British Open. Yesterday he shot a two-under-par 69.

The American hasn't enjoyed the best of times in this major, missing the last two cuts while never managing a top-10 finish since his debut in 1998.

"I love playing in the oldest championship in golf. Links golf is unusual and I love everything about the British Open - apart from my record," said Cink.

Clarke's fashion statement all in a good cause

The fashion stakes have been upped. Michael Campbell and Darren Clarke looked like a pair of Pink Panthers as they strode the fairways yesterday.

"Michael must have had the lights turned off when he was getting dressed," quipped Clarke of his playing partner's choice of colour. Clarke had his own reason for wearing pink.

"I'm trying to do a lot of work for breast-cancer awareness at the moment. We're trying to raise a lot of money to put scanners into a few hospitals in London. You know, it was for Heather, for breast cancer, that's why I wore pink."

Clarke recovered from a terrible start to post a 72.

What went through his mind when he hit his drive on the sixth out of bounds? "It's unprintable," he joked.

When Clarke bogeyed that hole, he was four over and floundering.

But he covered the remaining 12 holes in an exceptional three under par.