Surprising Rocco Leads Open

Rocco Mediate, the journeyman-golfer who came out of nowhere to give Tiger Woods a run for his money in the US Open, is picking up where he left off at the British Open, the New Zealand Herald reports. After a first round marked by miserable weather, Mediate is tied with Graeme McDowell and Robert Allenby atop the leader board  with a 1-under-par 69. "I have no explanation for that whatsover," said Mediate, 45. "This was a lot of fun."

Woods is sitting out this Open on the disabled list, but the No. 2 golfer, Phil Mickelson, failed to take advantage of his absence and struggled with a 79. Sergio Garcia, perhaps the favorite to win the tournament, sits 3 strokes back of the leaders at 72. Meanwhile, 53-year-old Greg Norman surprised many with an even-par 70. (More Rocco Mediate stories.)