The Open star's first shot fails to reach fairway and set tone for dismal opening round

K.J. Choi had a nightmare start at The Open Championship on Thursday, with a botched tee shot at Royal Portrush's first hole setting the tone for a disastrous first day.

Choi was among the early starters in Northern Ireland, teeing off at 6:46 am and his performance on the Dunluce Course - known for its punishing nature - was less than ideal. Brutally bad in fact.

In a moment that will comfort amateur golfers everywhere, the former world No. 5 failed to make clean contact with his drive, sending it just 176 yards. That fell short of the fairway - although it wasn't as poor as Romain Langasque's 84-yard effort at Royal Troon last year which is probably the best thing Choi will ever hear about it.

To add insult to injury, the South Korean golfer pulled his shot left into dangerously thick rough. Marshals eventually located Choi's ball, and the 55 year-old managed to find the fairway.

However, he couldn't avoid dropping a shot, which started a string of bogeys. Choi was eight-over-par through his opening nine holes, with another bogey following at the 11th hole.

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The eight-time PGA Tour winner, whose major victories include The Players and the Memorial Tournament, is playing in The Open for the first time since 2014. He earned his place in the tournament by winning last year's Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie, finishing two shots ahead of Richard Green.

He might well wish he hadn't bothered.

Major success may have bypassed Choi in his earlier career, but he confessed that clinching a victory on the senior circuit was a "dream" come true. He expressed his joy: "I'm very happy for my life. If everyone can pray a lot, [it is] very historical for a Korean player to win this."

Choi's difficulties seemed to spread to his playing partners in the day's second group, 2010 Open winner Louis Oosthuizen and Guido Migliozzi, who both had terrible starts at Royal Portrush. By the time they reached the 12th, each was five-over-par.

The challenge of Portrush didn't spare Cam Smith, the 2022 Open Champion, or his compatriot Jason Day, as both Australians found themselves three-over-par after nine holes, leaving them with significant ground to make up too.

American hopeful Max Geryserman endured a tough start, carding a six-over-par 42 on the front nine, putting him under pressure to make the cut.