EDDIE Pepperell dropped a late shot to card a level-par 72 on his Open Championship debut at St Andrews.

The 24-year-old, from Abingdon, is seven strokes behind leader Dustin Johnson.

He looked likely to post a below par round until a bogey at the par four 17th.

Pepperell will tee off at 3.40pm today as he bids to make the cut at only his second major after qualifying for the US Open in 2013.

The Frilford Heath ace got off to a good start with a birdie at the par four first.

Despite getting through the next three holes trouble free, he dropped a shot at the par five fifth, before moving back to one-under-par a hole later.

He completed the front nine without dropping another stroke, but went onto bogey the par three 11th.

As he did on the way out, Pepperell responded immediately with a birdie at the 12th.

However, just as he was heading for a below par round on his first Open appearance, a five on the 17th saw him drop back to even.

Tiger Woods had a day to forget, scoring a four-over-par 76 – his worst Open round as a professional.