Scott and Furyk make hay without the sunshine at PGA C’Ship

The threat of lightening may have interrupted the opening day’s play at Oakhill, but that didn’t stop reigning Masters champion Adam Scott and former US Open winner Jim Furyk carding 65s to tie for the lead after round one.

With the usually unforgiving East Course at Oakhill playing more like a local club on a Sunday thanks to a deluge the night before, current Green Jacket holder Scott hit five straight birdies on the front-nine on his way to an impressive five under-par.

Scott is now the 5/1 favourite to make it a year to remember with a second Major of the summer, while veteran American Furyk’s own scorecard featuring six birdies and a bogey, places him at 14/1 with three rounds to play.

Both players have carried their good form across from the recent Bridgestone Invitational controlling their ball beautifully from tee to green and look well set to challenge for the trophy.

Far from these two players forging clear daylight however, there were plenty of others who made the most of the mattress-like greens and forgiving bounces to shoot low scores on day one.

Just one shot back from the co-leaders is Lee Westwood (tipped up by this very columnist to top the GB and Ireland sideshow), after a fine bogey-free round of 66, leaving the Englishman at a roundly tempting 7/1 to end his Major misery.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods, the man who ran riot at Firestone just days before this event with that seven-shot victory is still in touch at one over-par.

Woods was seriously hampered by double-bogey at the ninth, though two back-nine birdies rescued matters slightly to leave him with work to do and available at 12/1 to reel in and overhaul the leaders.

A whole host of players are just a few shots further behind, including Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson at two under-par who are both 16/1 for glory with 54 holes to play.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.