It's a "Major Monday" at the Open Championship

The Open Championship leaderboard http://www.theopen.com/Leaderboard#!/traditional

Many of us have a full day of work ahead, as do many in St Andrews, none the less it's a Major Monday, and an intriguing one at that, full of storylines, triumph and of course failure.

The day has dawned sunny and calm and it rained again overnight so as I've been saying, the old  course is very gettable right now for the early pairings. http://www.theopen.com/TeeTimes#!/R4

However there is wind and rain in the forecast for later in the afternoon, which should favour those going out early to post a number and sit back too see if it is enough..

One of those doing just that is American amateur Oliver Schniederjans #1 ranked from Georgia Tech, who went out in 31 and is currently -6 on his round, -10. He is one of three amateurs in the top 6, the others Irishman Paul Dunne who is tied for the lead and another American Jordan Niebrugge from Oklahoma State at -9

So who will hoist the Claret Jug..

Will it be Louis Oosthuizen the 2010 winner here who starts with Dunne at -12 in the final pair off at 9.30am est, or will the young Irishman become the first amateur since Bobby Jones in 1930 to win the Open. Remember Oosthuizen  is one of golf's great wind players... keep that in mind when the weather rolls in..

Off in front of them at 9.20, Jordan Speith at -11 trying to make history by winning the first 3 majors of 2015, paired with Jason Day, so hungry for his first major and one of the best ball strikers in golf.

At 9.10,  Paddy Harrington has come from nowhere to shoot 72 69 65 -10 and Aussie Marc Leishman who has the low round of the week so far, 64 to get to -9. Leishman almost lost  his wife to illness earlier in the year, she was touch and go to live, is recovering now, but that has put everything in his life in priority.

Or how about Sergio, Rosey, the Goose, Zach Johnson, Adam Scott or Robert Streb all story's in their own right, and all at -9 along with Danny Willett

Graham DeLaet is at -5 having made 3 birdies an a double bogey.. He is on the back nine, bar far the tougher of the 2 nines, particularly today with the wind into the players when they turn for home out at the 12th.

It kind of looks like a playoff to me and if it is, they play a 4 hole aggregate.. That's how John Daly won here in 1995, remember he beat Constantino Rocca.

After 41 years Ivor Robson, the man who has been announcing the players on the first tee at the Open and indeed at most all European Tour events is calling his own number this week, due to illness. He doesn't leave the tee at all for 12 hours, no bathroom break, no food or drink. Hi is an icon.

A great day ahead...and I'll be watching to see how many late W/D's there will be from the RBC charter waiting ay Turnhouse to bring the players back here to Glen Abbey for the Canadian Open later in the week.

Later, Bryan