Colin Montgomerie crashed to his worst-ever round in the United States today - a 12-over-par 82 that left him a massive 16 strokes adrift of early US PGA leaders Phil Mickelson and Rod Pampling.
Returning to the Oak Hill course in Rochester, New York, where he helped Europe win the Ryder Cup eight years ago Montgomerie handed in a card that at the time put him in next-to-last place.
His previous highest score in the event was a 78 in the second round last year, but it was two fewer than his horror 84 in the third round of the Open at Muirfield last year.
"I just didn't play very well," said the 40-year-old Scot, appearing in his 50th major and still, of course, to win one. "I missed too many fairways. Six pars were good, but 12 bogeys were not so good. Never mind - try again tomorrow."
Tiger Woods was a much more healthy two over par with four to play on the demanding par-70 lay-out, while shock Open champion Ben Curtis bogeyed the first four holes, but remained four over with three to play.
The first of the Irish, Padraig Harrington teed off in the last half hour, and is currently on par after his first three holes. Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley will take to the course within the next hour.
Leader Mickelson birdied three of his first four holes, including the long 13th after hitting his second into the `Hill of Fame' - an area so-named because the giant trees have plaques on them dedicated to famous players of the past. The left-hander hit one, but it came out into the rough and left him a clear shot to the green.
He took advantage of his good fortune there by pitching to 18 feet and making the putt. Mickelson, playing his 46th major and hoping to make it into the winner's enclosure for the first time, reached five under with five to play, but finished with a bogey to fall back alongside Pampling - the Queenslander remembered for leading after the first round in the 1999 Open at Carnoustie and then missing the halfway cut.
Of the other British players out early Luke Donald was going nicely at two over after 13, but Phillip Price stood five over. Open runner-up Thomas Bjorn, meanwhile, was seven over.