Adam Scott's 6-Under 64 Leads 2012 British Open

Australian Adam Scott converted eight birdies as part of his 6-under 64 in the first round of the British Open Thursday. (Getty Images)

Royal Lytham & St. Annes in northwest England has set itself apart as the type of golf course that tends to bring the creme of the crop to the top. If the first round of this year's British Open is any indicator of how the rest of the tournament will play out, we could expect to see some of golf's best battling it out for the coveted major championship. While there were many great first round scores, one man's round was exceptionally better than the rest. That man was Adam Scott of Australia.

After an early bogey, Scott quickly bounced back and found his groove. His drives were precise, irons were steady, and putting game was confidently consistent. Scott came to the 17th hole on par to tie the record score (63) for the lowest round of any major ever. With a chance to make history, he settled for a par on the 17th and a bogey on the 18th to finish with a 6-under 64. Scott's score tied the course record set by Tom Lehman in 1996.

While Scott has never previously won a major, many of the players atop the leaderboard are former major winners. Paul Lawrie and Zach Johnson are one shot off the lead. Ernie Els, Bubba Watson, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, and Tiger Woods are all three shots back. That makes 7 of the top 13 in the leaderboard former major winners, who have won a combined 22 majors (14 by Woods). The other non-major winners near the top of the leaderboard are Nicolas Colsaerts (one shot back); Brandt Snedeker (two shots back); and Toshinori Muto, Steve Stricker, and Peter Hanson (all three shots back).

Royal Lytham has really distinguished itself as one of the greatest venues in the world. While it is only 6,973 yards in length, it more than compensates for it with its 205 bunkers and rough that swallows any balls that venture near it. In fact, since the Official World Golf Ranking debuted in 1986, every winner at Royal Lytham has been ranked #1 at one at some point in their career. No other course can boast of such an accomplishment.

Looking at our current leaderboard, the three former #1 ranked players are Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, and Rory McIlroy. If the aforementioned trend continues, these could be three of the top contenders to win the Open. Woods had a very good first round, hitting 13 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens. His putting may need to improve if he is going to win. Els is a savvy veteran who is a former Open Championship winner. McIlroy won his first career major last year. He could be in prime position for a run at his second.

While that is all merely speculation, there are some things we can seem to bank on for the rest of the tournament. If first round scores are any indicators, we could be in for some excellent golf. Royal Lytham has provided a beautiful venue for the golfers and spectators. We appear to be in for some very exciting and well played golf. I look forward to seeing what takes place the rest of the way.

Furyk, Toms, and Woods Tied for 2012 U.S. Open Lead

Tiger Woods acknowledges the crowd during Day 2 of the 2012 U.S. Open (Ben Margot)

No one said winning the U.S. Open would be easy. Olympic Club in San Francisco has been giving the PGA's top golfers all they can handle and than some. Round 2 saw the world's #1 Luke Donald and #2 Rory McIlroy miss the cut. So did Masters champion Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson, who was coming off a PGA Tour win last week.

You might me be wondering well who is in the lead. There are three wily, old veterans tied for the lead and who are looking to prove they've still got what it takes to win a major.

After winning the U.S. Open in 2003, Jim Furyk is looking to become the tournament's first multiple winner since Tiger Woods won his third in 2008. Furyk finished Friday's second round early with his 1-under 69. He gained the lead when first round leader Michael Thompson lost his stroke.

2001 PGA champion David Toms is also striving for another major win. Toms remained steady as can be during a straightforward even-par 70 for Friday's second round. His two bogeys on the front nine where remedied for by two birdies on the back nine.

Then, there is Tiger Woods, who is seeking to win his 15th major and to return to the level of greatness he achieved earlier in his career. During Friday's second round, Woods overcame three straight bogeys on the front nine for an even-par 70.

With Furyk, Toms, and Woods tied for the tournament lead at 1-under 139, the rest of the field sits over par. Of course, all of the attention will be on Woods. He is a media magnet and will likely have the support of the crowd on his side. Furyk and Toms have shown calm, veteran demeanors. They have positioned themselves well for making a run to win it all. Another player I would keep an eye on is Graeme McDowell, who remains just two shots off the lead. Two years ago, McDowell won a similarly difficult U.S. Open. I guess you could say he knows how to win ugly in a sense. It will be interesting to keep an eye on these golfers as we watch to see who will win the 2012 U.S. Open.

Bubba Bubbling With Emotion After Master's Win

Photo Credit: Don Emmert/Getty Images

Bubba Watson is a character to say the least. He has been seen in a music video in overalls, uses a pink driver, and got distracted at the award ceremony wondering what type of helicopter was flying overhead. Following his miraculous win in the playoff on the 12 hole, Watson could be seen crying uncontrollably. How he got to this point might explain why.

Louis Oosthuizen seemed to be in complete control of the tournament following his incredible shot early in the final round. Oosthuizen made an albatross (double eagle), which is commonly considered to be the rarest shot in golf. He used his 4-iron from 253 yards out on the par-5 2nd hole. The ball landed on the green and rolled approximately 90 feet into the hole. The shot propelled him into sole possession of the lead.

Watson didn't shutter in his pursuit of the lead. He made four straight birdies (13th-16th) on the back nine to force the playoff. On the second playoff hole, Watson's tee shot went badly into the woods nestled in the pine needles. Watson just tried do the best he could. What he ended up doing was use his wedge to hit the ball just under the tree branches above, hook 40 yards while gaining altitude, travel the 135 yard distance to the elevated green, and roll to withing 15 feet of the hole. One of the most miraculous shots in the history of golf, but Watson later referred to it as "pretty easy." Watson tapped in a short put for par to win this year's green jacket.

Watson let his emotions show once he won. He has always been a very emotional person, but didn't always know how to handle. It had got so bad a few years ago that his longtime caddie and friend, Ted Scott, threatened to leave him. Watson got the wakeup call and began to turn around his golf game and life. With his wife unable to have children, the couple had actively pursued in the adoption process. Many failures and disappoints came to an end when they finally were able to adopt a little boy named Caleb. Watson became a new man with a renewed sense of joy. This was just three weeks ago.

Watson's win continued the unlikely streak of 14 different major champions in the last 14 majors. Additionally, the last eight of those, and eleven of the last twelve, have been first-time major winners. Prior to 2003, no left-handed golfer had won the Masters. Now five of the last ten winners have been southpaws. Watson may be not have won in a prototypical way and might not fit in quite right with the prestige of the Masters, but his win was amazing none the less. The tournament reminded viewers that golf can be exciting, no matter how Tiger Woods is playing. There are many golfers just waiting to show you the talent they've got. And maybe some creativity if you are watching the one and only Bubba Watson.