SENIOR BRITISH OPEN:EDUARDO ROMERO'S affinity for the Senior British Open Championship continued as the Argentinian took a share of the lead with America's Bruce Vaughan at Royal Troon after the pair left Greg Norman in their wake.

Romero, who has twice finished runner-up in the championship in 2004 and 2006, and who finished tied fourth last year, shot an opening three-under-par 68, dropping just one shot on the sixth hole.

He joined Vaughan at the top of the leaderboard after the American shot eight birdies as well as a double and treble bogey in a remarkable round.

Defending champion Tom Watson is just two strokes behind after a birdie on the 16th in a flawless 70, but pre-tournament favourite Norman could not carry his momentum from last week's remarkable display at Royal Birkdale, finishing with a four-over 75.

For the Irish, Mark McNulty overcame a triple-bogey seven at the 11th to sign for a one-under 71, and Eamonn Darcy shot a fine 72.

But the most impressive effort came from Portmarnock amateur Adrian Morrow, who, despite opening with a double bogey at the first, completed the remaining holes in level par to be in a share of 22nd on 73.

Romero came into the championship in fine form, having won the Dick's Sporting Goods Open in New York on the Champions Tour at the start of the month.

He produced a huge, 205-yard nine-iron tee-shot on the 16th to set up his third birdie of the day, and then declared it would be his week, following his previous near misses.

"O'Meara is here, Langer is here, Woosnam is here, Greg Norman is here, and I think it's more difficult than last year and a couple years ago," Romero said. "But I'm in good form and I feel strong and I feel good and I feel happy. It's probably my week. I think it's my week.

"I love this tournament. You know, last year and the year before, I just missed by a couple of shots, and I love playing here. I've played for 30 years in Europe, and when I come here, it's like home. And especially this tournament, The Senior Open for me is a very special tournament. I will try my best to win this tournament, and I started very well today."

Vaughan picked up shots on the second and fourth but fell back to level par with a double bogey seven on the fifth. He then moved to three under par with three birdies in five holes, before losing the lead again with a triple bogey seven on the 12th. He returned with birdies on the 13th, 16th and the last.

"It was either feast or famine today," he said. "Outside of those two sevens, it was a good round. It's just the first day though. We've got a few more days left."

Vaughan hails from Kansas, the same state as Watson, and he admitted the three-time Senior Open champion was a hero back home.

Watson certainly played like he could create another piece of golfing history this weekend on the course where he won the British Open in 1982.

The 58-year-old said: "I didn't hit every fairway, but I hit every green today. How about that! I've never done that before. I hit 18 greens and I've putted for 18 birdies, but I don't think I've ever hit 18 greens on the Tour ever in my life."

Watson is two shots off the leaders alongside Bernhard Langer on one under par, with fellow Americans Andy Bean, John Cook and Kirk Hanefield one shot off the pace on two under par, along with England's Nick Job.

For Norman, though, the sedate sunshine on the Ayrshire coast might have been a world away from blustery Birkdale last week, but he appeared to suffer something of a hangover from his Open championship fairytale.

The Australian looked understandably jaded from a dramatic seven days as he opened with three bogeys in the first five holes and carded three more before steadying himself and picking up shots on the 13th and 18th holes.

Sandy Lye, playing in the same group as Norman and Watson, finished level with The Great White Shark after finishing with consecutive birdies.

Meanwhile, Craig Stadler aced Royal Troon's famous, 123-yard Postage Stamp eighth hole with a pitching wedge and won 123 bottles of wine.

He said: "I just chipped a little pitching wedge and there she was. I was just hoping to stay out of the right bunker. It got a good first bounce and carried across the hill and hit the hole. It was nice to see it slow down. The wine is perfect as well. I'll have a little Shiraz this evening I think."