The past is the past. This time, the Carnoustie links was no torture chamber. And, for Sergio Garcia especially, there was a measure of redemption.

Yesterday, with only a breath of wind to distract those who set off in pursuit of the Claret Jug, the Spaniard - who had walked away in tears in 1999 - claimed the first-round lead in the British Open with an opening 65, six under, that left him peerless. For one day, at any rate.

On a day that started with yet more rain, which softened the links further and took much of the fire from the course's belly, the vast majority of play took place in dry and overcast conditions that were as near to perfect for scoring as could be.

By day's end, no fewer than 24 players managed to beat the par of 71. That may encourage the R&A to provide sterner pin placements as the championship progresses. We'll see.

Certainly, as far as the Irish challenge in this great championship is concerned, there have been few better opening days. Paul McGinley, no longer looking glum and at odds with the world, was more like his old self in conjuring a 67, to be alone in second place; Rory McIlroy defied his age (two months past his 18th birthday) and his amateur status and looked the part of a golfing star-in-the-making with a 68; and Padraig Harrington, despite having concerns about his driving, posted an opening 69.

"That's some achievement for Rory. This is proving he is the real deal. I'm very impressed," remarked Harrington of the teenager's introduction to major-time golf.

Garcia, more than most, can appreciate McIlroy's arrival. Few have carried as heavy a weight of expectation, and yesterday's impressive effort - a round of 65 that featured seven birdies and one dropped shot, at the fearsome par-three 16th - from Garcia confirmed the wisdom of finally moving to the belly putter.

"Vijay (Singh) has been telling me for a year or two to use one, and I didn't listen to him," he said.

On this evidence, Garcia should have unblocked his ears sooner. On his last visit to Carnoustie for the 1999 Open, he shot a first-round 89. This effort represented a 24-shot improvement.

"This is not about revenge for me; I just want to play solid. I want to give myself good looks at birdies, and not to suffer too much out there on the course and to put myself in a position where I can do something on Sunday. This is a good start, definitely what the doctor ordered."

Garcia's decision to switch to the long putter came after his experiences at Oakmont in last month's US Open.

"There's nothing I hate more than not being able to start the putt on line," commented Garcia, who produced a back nine of just 31 strokes to move ahead of McGinley, who had posted his score a number of hours earlier.

In fact, McGinley had also reached six under (then three shots clear of his challengers), when he birdied the 14th. But bogeys on the 15th and 16th brought the Dubliner back closer to the field, before Garcia later overtook him.

McGinley finished the day alone in second, with McIlroy - who played beautifully once he recorded his first birdie, a 15-footer, on the fifth - among a group that includes the US Open champion, Angel Cabrera, Michael Campbell, Markus Brier and Boo Weekley in a share of third place.

Indeed, McIlroy's confidence was demonstrated by his four-iron approach to the 18th, which finished 10 feet below the hole. Unfortunately, he did not make the birdie putt.

Carnoustie's infamous 18th hole claimed a few more victims. Phil Mickelson changed his game-plan and turned it into a par five. A stiff wind had picked up at the time, preventing many players even reaching the green in two.

"It is a great challenging hole today because it played into the wind. When it is downwind it is maybe a three-wood and a seven-iron," said Mickelson, whose bogey at the last saw him finish on level par.

His US compatriot Jim Furyk also fell foul of Home, dropping a shot to card a one-under 70.

The shot of the day belonged to Lee Westwood, who holed his approach from 185 yards with a five-iron for an eagle two on the par-four 15th. That helped the Ryder Cup star post a 71.

Ominously, perhaps, Tiger Woods is lurking after an opening 69, the same mark as Harrington.

"The golf course is hard, but it is fair. To shoot 69 in these conditions is very satisfying, it feels good," said Woods, who was the subject of a little controversy on the 10th when he was given a ruling by an R&A official that allowed him to take a drop away from TV cables.

"It was a weird drop," conceded Woods, who hadn't requested it. "Usually TV cables are movable. I've never seen that ruling before. Every time I've played around the world, they've picked those up, no problem."

Woods claimed, however, the free drop he received didn't benefit him. "I dropped it a little worse, actually," he said.

Harrington, for his part, likes that he is in a position to progress: "You know, it's hard when you're leading a tournament, so 69 is a good return. I'm pleased with it.

"I didn't drive the ball as well as I wanted to, so that is something of concern to me."

Still, it was a good day's work. His only dropped shot came on the second, where a conservative tee-shot short of the bunkers left him with a long approach that finished in a greenside bunker. The lie was dreadful. Forced to play out left-handed, with his sand wedge turned around, he somehow managed to get the ball onto the green but missed the long par putt.

He finally managed to get a birdie on the ninth, and added two more at the 13th (from 45 feet) and the 14th.

Garcia, though, finished ahead of everyone. But nobody needs to remind him that the hard work lies ahead. Last year, at Hoylake, he was in the last group with Woods in the final round, only to be left in the winner's wake.

"You learn from those near misses and those bad rounds that you have once in a while . . . I'm still young and I'd love to win a major very, very soon. The only thing I can do is give myself chances."

He has, at least, done that.