Justin Rose felt he should have done even better after making a solid start at the Open Championship at Royal Troon.
The former US Open champion shot 68 to establish himself among the early front-runners on three under.
But unlike most of the field, the 35-year-old actually performed better on the trickier back nine than the outward holes and felt he missed some opportunities.
He said: "The first seven holes - for the whole week - that is going to be as easy as we have it.
"I was really conscious about it. I knew I couldn't force it but I wanted to be very sharp going out.
"I actually did, I played really well, but just hit a couple putts that lipped out and birdied the par five. I felt like I should have birdied six.
"Suddenly I'm only one under through six, when I felt like I played great.
"I made up for a bit on the back nine. The score didn't quite reflect how well I played but I'm certainly happy with the start."
Rose reached the turn in one-under 35 and then gained two more birdies on a bogey-free back nine. He was pleased to perform well in good conditions with poorer weather forecast for Friday.
He said: "I thought all the lights were on in the house when I woke up, then I realised it's actually the sunshine. We've rented this house for two weeks and I woke up and the whole house looked different. It was the first bit of sun we've had!
"But tomorrow will be a different challenge. You're going to have to flip that switch and realise that some of the birdie holes are going to flip-flop between the front nine and the back nine."
Source: PA
