ST. ANDREW, Scotland (AP) - David Lingmerth started the British Open by tying a scoring record on the front nine.
He looked like a totally different player on the back side.
The Swedish golfer birdied the first four holes on the way to a 7-under 29 at the turn. That tied the best nine-hole score ever posted during an Open at St. Andrews, matching Tony Jacklin's performance in 1970.
On the return leg, Lingmerth couldn't keep it going. Not even close. He bogeyed the 11th, 14th and 15th holes, then took a double-bogey at the 17th after hitting his second shot into the infamous Road Hole bunker. Hitting out with his back to the flag, he wound up three-putting for a 6.
Lingmerth finally made another birdie at the 18th, leaving him with a 3-under 69 and three shots off the lead.
Robert Streb shot a 66, while Matt Jones and Greg Owen are both two shots back at 68. Amateur Paul Dunne matched Lingmerth with a 69.