THE time and the place were almost identical to 12 years ago, but the

scores definitely bore no similarity as Jack Nicklaus began his

thirty-second consecutive Open Championship.

It was at wet and wild Royal St George's in 1981 that Nicklaus opened

with an horrendous 83, only to battle back with a courageous 66 to

survive the halfway cut.

Nicklaus again had a late tee-off time in the first round, but the

Golden Bear proved that he is not ready to be pensioned off with a

one-under-par 69.

The 53-year-old three-times former champion picked up three birdies

and two bogeys in the first seven holes before reeling off 11

consecutive pars to post a sub-par score.

Nicklaus, who played well to capture the US Seniors Open last weekend,

said: ''I feel comfortable about my game coming off last week's win. I

had a big carry-over effect.

''For the first time in over a year I feel I know where the ball is

going and what I'm doing on the golf course. It's a pretty good start

and I feel it could have been better.''