Romero: four birdies and one bogey during opening 68

Leaderboard
E Romero (Arg) -3
B Vaughan (US) -3
A Bean (US) -2
J Cook (US) -2
K Hanefeld (US) -2
N Job (Eng) -2

Also see

• EuroTour Schedule
• World Rankings
• Golf live on Sky Sports

Eduardo Romero and Bruce Vaughan share the lead at three-under after the first round of the Senior Open Championship at Troon.

Vaughan's wildly fluctuating 68 featured double-bogeys at the sixth and 12th but also eight birdies - four on each half - to ensure the American ended in credit.

Romero took a more measured approach, sandwiching a bogey at the sixth with birdies at the first and eighth to turn in 35 strokes.

And the Argentinean picked up further strokes at the 13th and 17th during a bogey-free back nine to join Vaughan at the head of the leaderboard.

It was a good day in general for the American contingent with Andy Bean, John Cook and Kirk Hanefeld forming three-quarters of the tie for second at two-under, alongside England's Nick Job.

Watson, Langer in contention

Defending champion Tom Watson, who was a five-time Open champion during his days on the main tour and has won this event on three occasions, lurks one further back on one-under.

Watson is part a six-man group that also features two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer.

Greg Norman returned to earth after his heroics at Birkdale last week. The 53-year-old Australian pushed his young rivals all the way at the Open, taking a two-shot lead into the final round before eventually finishing tied third behind Padraig Harrington and Ian Poulter.

However, he could manage just a 75 on the opening day of the Senior version of the tournament.

Alongside Norman in a tie for 45th at four-over is Sandy Lyle, who was heavily criticised for withdrawing mid-way through his first round at Birkdale in order to escape a howling gale and preserve his swing for this event.