Dawn breaks over the Ayrshire coast and it's the sort of day that locals talk about when they sing. "Oh! it's nice to get up in the mornin', but it's nicer to lie in bed."

But through the murky gloom, with a spring in his step, came Gary Evans - born in Rustington, resident in Dubai and very at home at the Open.

British golfers' fortunes at this major have waned since Paul Lawrie's win at Carnoustie five years ago but Evans' record certainly stands up to scrutiny.

He finished five shots behind last year's winner Ben Curtis at Royal St George's but still basks in the glow of his performance 12 months earlier.

Then he endeared himself to millions of viewers when he rolled in an audacious 50-foot putt for par across the 17th green before turning to the camera and declaring, "That one's for you, Mum!"

The stuffy members at Muirfield's Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers spluttered into their gin and tonics at the impertinence as Evans finished fifth behind eventual champion Ernie Els, missing out on the play-off by just one shot.

A three-under par first round 68 yesterday put him in contention once again, just two shot behind first round leaders Paul Casey and Thomas Levet.

"I feel good - no I feel great," said Evans. "It was fantastic. Happy days.

"I always feel that little bit more confident at this tournament. I've been playing on these sort of courses since I was an amateur and I love the challenge of links golf.

"I know I can compete here with the very best and there's no reason why I can't be there at the end of the week in contention.

"It's boring but I don't want to get ahead of myself and start thinking about Sunday. I want to concentrate on the second round first."

So far this has not been a season to remember for Evans. Before last year's Open he'd placed fourth and fifth at the European and Scottish Opens - this year the best he has mustered is a tie for 14th at the K Club two weeks ago.

He is currently 77th on the European Tour money list and has already missed six cuts - compared to seven in all of 2003 and five in 2002.

"It's not been great so far but I'd rather compare my season at the end rather than now," added Evans. "I've been struggling with a back and shoulder injury as well which has made things difficult.

"However, I know I'm mentally prepared for this Open. And I guarantee one thing, there's not a human being on the planet that went through a worse time in terms of nerves than me two years ago.

"Standing over that putt at Muirfield is the worst I've felt in my entire life - that experience can only do me good this week."

Evans woke at 4am to take his place in the first three-ball of the championship but showed no effects from the early start and he had no problems sleeping either - a medicinal pint of Guinness put pay to that.

"It's nerve-racking being in the first group but I've done it twice before here so it was not a new experience for me," he added.

"I was down at the course at 5am and it was nice and quiet and I had a really good practice session. I felt comfortable with my game walking to the first tee and that really helped."

Evans did miss three makeable putts in the opening holes but his round came alive at the par five fourth.

After lacing a driver down the middle of the fairway he held a 227-yard five iron for an albatross two - it was only a shame few people were there to witness it.

"I was disappointed with my start because I knew I had to be under par for the front nine to post a decent score," added Evans.

"It was my first albatross ever and it couldn't have come at a better time."

Some of that good work was undone by a bogey six at the 601-yard sixth and Evans saved par with some good work with the wedge on the eighth and 11th. Birdies at the 12th and 16th put him top of the leaderboard, although difficulty escaping from a bunker meant he dropped a shot at the 17th.

Things did not go so well for Horsham's Matthew Hazelden on his Open debut as he carded an eight over par 79.

Evans was not the only one thrilling the crowds at Troon as his albatross was quickly followed by a hole-in-one from Ernie Els at the famous Postage Stamp hole.

That ace - the seventh of his career - at the 123-yard eighth helped the pre-tournament favourite to lead the way at four under with two to play but Els took two to escape from a bunker on the 17th to run up a double bogey and had to settle for a 69.

With Els falling away it was left to Casey and Levet to share the overnight lead at five under par.

Casey made up for bogeys on the ninth and 12th with birdies at the first, fourth, eighth, 10th, 11th, 16th and 18th and playing partner Phil Mickleson believes he is a potential champion.

Mickleson -who shot a disappointing two over - said: "The way he played I wouldn't be surprised one bit if he is on top on Sunday."

Levet has not stopped smiling since he shot his closing 63 at Loch Lomond to win the Scottish Open and earn a last-minute entry into the Open.

The 35-year-old, beaten by Els at Muirfield two years ago only at the fifth hole of a play-off, had four birdies in five holes from the fourth and had the added bonus of a 33-foot putt on the 222-yard 17th.

"I just hope my game stays the same and my mind stays the same," he said.

"When you play that well you don't really feel the pressure because you know you're going to make things happen."

Casey and Levet led by a stroke from Brighton-based New Zealander Michael Campbell who was second last weekend and third in the 1995 Open.

The bunch two behind included British amateur champion Stuart Wilson and world number three Vijay Singh.

Darren Clarke, runner-up at Troon in 1997, and Colin Montgomerie, playing on his home course, both shot 69 to be just three off the lead.