Image source, Getty Images

To our shame we never showed you any pictures of that ball hunt.

But here they are about an hour ago.

An absolute jungle.

Pars all round on the par-four 15th for the three who were first out of the hutch at 0635 this morning. Another crackerjack of a hole - called Skerries after the rocky islands that lie in the distance about a mile out to sea.

They were through the first six holes in 90 minutes but have slowed a little since then - that double ball search on the 11th for Hojgaard and McKibbin to blame a little for that.

Here they go on the par-three 16th. An absolute brute of a hole.

Image source, Getty Images

What a par save from Xander Schauffele!

His tee shot on the par-three third comes up well short and drifts back to the small portion of fairway in front of the green. Work to do for the defending champion.

He can hardly see the top of the flag as he tries to pitch up a massive bank in front of him.

As the group behind containing Shane Lowry and Scottie Scheffler watch on from the tee, Schauffele drains his par putt from 15 feet to stay at level par.

As our first group out tackle the dreaded 16th hole - Darren Clarke tells them how to handle it.

Graeme Storm
Two-time European Tour winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

[Lowry] started where he left off six years ago.

He’s just playing the perfect golf, hitting the shots that he needs to hit. He is giving himself chances and the crowd are going along with him.

Shane Lowry just misses out on an eagle at the second as his putt from 30 feet just can't find the cup, but it's a tap-in birdie for the Irishman who has started brilliantly so far.

Scottie Scheffler just whistles his birdie try inches wide of the mark so has to settle for par.

Tremendous from Lee Westwood down the eighth as he pumps a beautiful approach to 20 feet.

He cosies in his putt and it runs close to set up another nerveless par.

He stays one off the lead of Jacob Skov Olesen.

It could be bad news for golfers and spectators in Portrush later today as thunderstorms are expected.

BBC Northern Ireland's Barra Best has the weather.

Oliver Wilson
Former Ryder Cup player on BBC Radio 5 Live at Portrush

It's one of those courses that really from start to finish it doesn’t give a whole lot back.

Obviously, you need to try to take advantage of the par fives but every hole is so tough off the tee.

It’s a links course that makes you take on the bunkers. You have to hit a solid tee shot. Driving the ball is incredibly important round here.

This course asks so many questions.

Image source, Getty Images

Li Haotong starts his back nine with a birdie at the 10th to join Lee Westwood in second place at three under.

Image source, PA Media

It's very early and Shane Lowry has only hit four full swings so far, but they've all been bang on the money as he drills a long iron onto the second green to give him a good look for eagle.

He just looks in total control of his game right now. He must be on for a statue if he wins this again here?

Three pars on the par-three third for these three. Three really is the magic number in this post...

Anyway, they're now heading to the fourth hole, where Ken Brown is waiting to tell us all about it.

Taking varying routes, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele and JJ Spaun are all on the second green in three with lengthy attempts for birdie.

None of them drop though so, like on the first, it's pars all round for one of the marquee morning groups.

Jacob Skov Olesen won the Amateur Championship only last year not too far away from here at Ballyliffin, so he's obviously a fan of an Irish links as he jumps into the solo lead at Portrush.

The left-hander rolled in a monster putt from at least 40 feet on the 12th for an eagle to advance to four under.

A couple of good par savers on the 14th for McKibbin and Hojgaard to keep their rounds on track.

But Padraig Harrington pays the price for a wayward drive into the rough and that ultimately costs him another shot.

After that eagle on two, Matt Fitzpatrick gave one back at three with a bogey dropping him back to one under.

And he's in trouble on the fourth after missing the green to the right and being stuck in the rough, but his chop out leaves him with a decent chance of saving par.

After that fine birdie on the first, Brooks Koepka finds himself in the bunker off the tee on the par-five second.

The American is able to recover for par, while playing partner Sam Burns knocks his third shot close and knocks in the birdie putt to join Koepka on one under.

Our very own Ken Brown has been taking a look at the dangers posed by the sand traps this week...

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Royal Portrush

Shane Lowry strode on to the first tee to wonderful acclaim. We've seen a lot of long irons and rescue woods off this tee but the Irishman gave his opening blow the full treatment with the big stick.

As he walked off the tee, he puffed out his cheeks and took in the moment. His process is clearly working well, even if his birdie putt lipped out there. Steady start.

Oh, and the rain is here...

One of the great things about The Open is the spread of golfers from all over the world that now attend thanks to global qualifying events for the tournament.

That includes Richard Teder who is the first Estonian to play in the event.

I've played golf in Estonia, in summer you can play almost all day thanks to the immense about of daylight around the country - but it's a tough gig in the winter with just six hours of daylight at times, that's not long to sneak in a round of golf!

Phil Mickelson's fine round really got a going at the third, when he left his second shot in the bunker but then, in big trouble, went and holed out with his second attempt.

Classic Phil.