ESPN Golf

Golf courses are typically quiet places, but it was slightly haunting to hear more than 30,000 people -- golfers, spectators, tournament workers -- go silent for two minutes to honor the victims of the terrorist attacks in London last week.

A two-minute moment of silence was observed Thursday in all European Union nations, including Scotland. Horns were sounded at St. Andrews to halt play for the event.

"It was particularly moving, don't you think?" said Alistair McIntosh, 48, of Glasgow, who removed his hat and turned around and looked out to sea rather than face the first fairway. "My daughter's friend was one of the people hurt in London. Just a sad, sad day really."

In the wake of last week's suicide bombings in London, it would have been easy to understand if security for the Open Championship was tight. But spectators arriving at the tournament were not searched, nor were members of the media who carried bags and suitcases full of equipment into the event. Overall, security appeared lax, although there were security guards and police all over the tournament grounds.

Tournament officials said they are taking every precaution and carefully screening the tournament grounds looking for potential problems. But searching everyone who comes to a golf event isn't practical.

Jose Maria Olazabal should send his fellow countryman Seve Ballesteros a nice bottle of Spanish wine for getting him into the British Open. Olazabel was given a late invitation after Ballesteros withdrew. Olazabal was the best player in the World Golf Rankings (61st) who wasn't already invited, and he took advantage of his invitation by shooting a 4-under-par 68 in the first round.

Olazabal must love being back in Europe. In his last nine PGA Tour rounds in the U.S., he failed to break 70. In his last nine rounds in Europe, he has broken 70 five times, shooting no worse than a 71.

You gotta love the Brits. If you think Americans have a fascination with gambling, just spend a few minutes in a betting parlor like Ladbrokes in St. Andrews.

Among the British Open bets you can make this week:
" Any player in the field shooting a 59: 200-to-1.
" John Daly making a 10 or worse on any hole: 10-to-1.
" Jack Nicklaus making the cut: 7-to-1.

Retief Goosen's first-round 68 was 13 shots better than his final round at the U.S. Open in June. Of course, he knew he was going to be asked about that improvement the moment he walked off the Old Course Thursday.

"Pinehurst is pretty much history," Goosen said of the U.S. Open. "I wasn't thinking about it at all [today]. It was one of those rounds of golf. I've been playing bad. And I've been very much looking forward to this week. Pinehurst has been completely forgotten."

One of the most impressive stories involving the British Open is about a player who isn't playing: Bob Estes.

He was second alternate for the event, but the resident of Austin, Texas, still took it upon himself to hop a flight to Glasgow and hang out at St. Andrews in the hopes he would get into the field.

He didn't, but the gesture was particularly moving since many American players have been criticized in the past for not making the trip even if they had qualified.

"I felt like it was something I had to do," Estes said. "If I don't get in, that's just the way it goes."

Korean golfer S.K. Ho came to the Road Hole at St. Andrews for the first time Wednesday and asked where he should aim before hitting his tee shot. The reply from someone in his group? "Aim at your name."

Golfers have to hit their tee shot over the Old Course Hotel. On the side of the building is the hotel's name: "Old Course Hotel." Ho made par on 17, en route to a 1-over 73.

Whenever the British Open returns to St. Andrews, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club plays host to a champion's dinner. This year's turnout was particularly impressive, including every winner in recent years except one: 1995 champ John Daly.

Daly did not give a reason for not attending.

Mark Calcavecchia understands the importance of not being late for a tee time, but his 2:09 a.m. wake-up call for a 6:30 tee time was a bit much.

"That's when I woke up. My wife [Brenda] had a sneezing attack," he said. "And I was ready to get up anyway. We slept a lot yesterday, so I was planning to get up at four. I'll be ready for another nap this afternoon."

Calcavecchia was in the first group of the day with Rory Sabbatini and Simon Dyson, and finished at 2 under, shooting 70.

The Open Championship is always noteworthy for its international cast of characters, and among this year's field of 156 are players from Argentina to Zimbabwe. Last week a GolfDigest.com poll asked readers, "What region will produce this year's British Open Champion?" More than 2,000 voters weighed in. Here's a recap of the results, and the top first-round performers from each region:

GD.COM poll question: From what region will this year's British Open champion hail?

North America: 62 percent Tiger Woods, minus-6

Europe: 17 percent Luke Donald, Jose Maria Olazabal, Eric Ramsay, Tino Schuster, minus-4

Australia/Pacific: 7 percent Mark Hensby, minus-5

South America: 3 percent Angel Cabrera, plus-3

Asia: 2 percent Hiroyuki Fujita, Even

Tiger Woods is following a victory at the Masters and a second-place finish at the U.S. Open. And Mark Hensby? The little-known Australian tied for fifth at Augusta and tied for third at Pinehurst (he also finished in a tie for fourth at last week's John Deere Classic).

Ron Kaspriske is an editor for Golf Digest magazine