British Open scores 2015: Dustin Johnson grabs 1st-round lead, Tiger Woods awful again

For the second consecutive major championship, Dustin Johnson is atop the leaderboard after the first round. Johnson held a share of the first-round lead at the U.S. Open and sits alone at the top of the 2015 British Open leaderboard after shooting a 7-under round of 65.

St. Andrews sets up beautifully for a long hitter and no one is longer than DJ. He benefited from playing in more favorable early-morning conditions and took full advantage. Johnson finished the day with a clean card — five birdies, an eagle and no bogeys — to post a 7-under 65 and take a one-stroke lead on the field. Johnson averaged 323 yards off the tee and hit 15-of-18 greens in regulation. Oh yeah, he putted pretty well too -- here his length set up the first of a scant few eagles of the championship.

Johnson finished the day among the leaders in driving distance, greens hit and fewest putts. That makes for a nearly unbeatable combination if he can maintain it. Doing so has proven to be a challenge and one that will begin on Friday. While he benefited from playing in better scoring conditions on Thursday morning, the weather is supposed to get wild when he tees off Friday afternoon. Survive that, and Johnson will be in as good of a position as anyone heading into the weekend.

A number of the leaders will be challenged with those difficult Friday afternoon conditions, including Jordan Spieth and Jason Day. Spieth and Day have become consistent major championship contenders (and winners, in the case of Spieth) and are once again in the thick of the leaderboard with Day at 6-under and Spieth two off the lead at 5-under.

Although he is a shot back, Zach Johnson may have carded the best round on Thursday. He managed a 6-under 66 despite playing in the afternoon. He will play in the morning on Friday and could sneak through in slightly more favorable conditions depending on when the really strong winds begin to pick up. Depending on how bad it gets, Johnson could set a solid clubhouse lead while many of the other leaders struggle to card anything under par when the wind really starts to blow in the afternoon. Rain is also in the forecast, which could make for an even bigger challenge.

Phil Mickelson wasn’t his sharpest Thursday afternoon in the tougher wind, but he did manage to scramble and finish under par. He shot a 70 and sits at 2-under. Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler had similar rounds. Rose got off to a great start and was 4-under at one point before dropping a couple shots, coming in to finish 1-under. Fowler wasn’t able to capitalize on scoring opportunities with his putter and finished at even par -- one eagle and two bogeys.

All of the aforementioned remain in contention heading into the final 54 holes. Tiger Woods, however, probably does not after shooting a 4-over 76. Woods played in the morning when most of the field went low, but still only managed a single birdie. Like at the U.S. Open, he’s essentially an afterthought after one round and likely on his way to an early exit.

Here is a complete look at the leaderboard following the first round.