ESPN.com - Golf Online - British Open 2000

By Bob Harig
Special to ESPN Golf Online
Thursday, July 20

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- The birdie was pretty good. Compared to everything else that happened at the 17th hole on Thursday, it was downright spectacular.

Ernie Els made a 3 at the infamous Road Hole, giving him the lead after the first round of the British Open. And he made it look easy, hitting a 6-iron to 8 feet from 184 yards and draining the putt.

"We played it in very benign conditions," Els said. "The tee shot is everything on that hole. If you hit it in the rough, you have very little chance of making par. I had a perfect lie. ... I just tried to draw it in there and that's what I did."

The hole is difficult for several reasons. Players are required to hit a blind tee shot that flies just to the left of the Old Course Hotel. In fact, a sign for the hotel is typically the flight pattern.

Then there is a gaping bunker in front of the green and a road behind that is bordered by a wall. All of it is in play.

"You kind of get a line and you have to just trust it and go with it," Els said. "It is one of the best holes on the golf course."

Jean Van de Velde didn't trust himself when he stood on the tee.

"I was sweating a little bit," he said. "I wanted to cut it and I aimed left and I cut it big time. I thought, 'Oh, no, this is going to land in my bedroom! Luckily, it didn't. It must have missed the conservatory by just a few yards."

Van de Velde made par, unlike many others Thursday.

Notah Begay III led the tournament at 7-under when he found the rough twice and hit his third into the Swilcan Burn. His triple-bogey 7 dropped him from the top spot. Paul Azinger made a 6, as did Phil Mickelson. Mark Calcavecchia was forced to putt backwards in the Road Bunker because his ball was up against the lip. He then blasted and left the ball in the bunker.

Els' birdie was one of just four at the Road Hole all day. It played to an average of 4.8, making it easily the hardest hole on the course. There were 29 players with scores worse than a bogey.