Robert MacIntyre's three-under 67 first round at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale was "exactly" what he wanted. The 29-year-old Scot picked up four birdies and one bogey during his first ever competitive round at the course. MacIntyre holed a 46-foot putt for birdie at the first before following it with another birdie at the second.

"Exactly what I wanted," MacIntyre told BBC Scotland. "Exactly the start that I felt I needed to get right into the golf tournament. There's not much I would have changed... Fairways and greens. Greens are the priority."

The par-70 Royal Birkdale has several par-four holes that were previously par fives. "One of my pet hates is par fives getting changed to par fours," MacIntyre said. He detailed strategy on the 18th and 13th holes, emphasizing avoiding pot bunkers: "Bogeys don't kill you - doubles do."

The two-time European Ryder Cup player begins his second round Friday at 12:25 BST. "There'll be no thought about golf until I probably start driving in here tomorrow," he added. Earlier, MacIntyre told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I am in the place I want to be."