IAN POULTER was booed when he stepped up for his first shot at St Andrews. He almost did what the fans wanted, by trying to miss the largest fairway in golf.

LIV rebel Poulter appeared rattled by hostile reception - even though he later claimed not to have heard the jeers – and let loose with a horrendous snap hook.

It appeared to be going out of bounds. The first fairway merges with the one serving the 18th and is approximately 125 yards in width.

Poulter was fortunate to have his ball just short of the out-of-bounds markers which separate Links Road from the 18th. He managed to salvage a par.

Things improved after that. Ryder Cup champion made a birdie at third and then pulled out the putter when his attempt at driving to the green at 352 yards nine ended in a burned out area.

46-year-old Poulter has been a great putter. He showed this with the five birdie Blitzes that set the stage for the Miracle at Medinah ten year ago.

He made an eagle 2 from 163 feet. It was the longest putt in a televised event. At three under for the front nine, his name was at the top of the early leaderboard.

The back nine was an absolute roller-coaster.

After a bogey-birdie swap at 11 and 12, a bad mistake at the must-birdie fourteenth was made, which is one of two par fives on the Old Course.

The Ryder Cup's nicknamed "The Postman" because of his ability to deliver, the man airmailed the green with the third shot and ended up with a bogey 6.

He did manage to get that shot though, driving the green at par four last. This set up a birdie and two-putt birdie for him, as well as a three-under par 69.