First round exactly what I wanted - MacIntyre

Bob 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 Royal Birkdale.

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. Obviously, there were a few putts I hoped would go in that didn't, but yeah, it was a solid start.

"Fairways and greens. Greens are the priority. Obviously, fairways - stay out of the bunkers. But I had no thoughts about making a quick start or anything.

"I just hit a lovely putt on the first, a lovely second shot into the second, and then I thought I played really well from there on."

The par-70 Royal Birkdale has a number of par-four holes that were previously par fives.

"One of my pet hates is par fives getting changed to par fours," MacIntyre said. "I feel like there's no way to hit the tee shots because it's so narrowed for a par four.

"But yeah, like 18, I've played it as long as I can play it. Lay it short of the pot bunker on the left and then accept a longer shot in, then just try and scramble, to be honest.

"Because I feel like bogeys don't kill you - doubles do. And the priority on certain holes is just staying out of the pot bunkers. The 13th is the same. Get yourself around the green, then scramble. I think I'm pretty good at that."

The two-time European Ryder Cup player begins his second round on Friday at 12:25 BST.

"There'll be no thought about golf until I probably start driving in here tomorrow," he added.

"That's one of the biggest things that has helped me over the last wee while. I'll think about golf when I have to."

Earlier, MacIntyre told BBC Radio 5 Live: "There is the potential of a low score, but I am not going to worry about that.

"I am in the place I want to be."

Jack McDonald - the only other Scot in the field - shot a level-par opening round of 70.

The 33-year-old was three under through five holes and made the turn in 32 shots, but a double bogey at the 11th and a bogey at the 14th undid his early good work.

"I got off to a really fast start, which is always nice," McDonald said.

"I birdied one and two, which was cool, and then birdied five, so I got off to a really good start. It's just good to be in that position, especially in an Open Championship.

"The wind got up a wee bit and it was pretty difficult towards the end.

"The great thing is, the premium is hitting fairways. If you're able to hit fairways, you've got an opportunity to hit it close. If you don't, you're then trying to do something."