The Open: Thirston Lawrence powers into top 10 with 65

The 27-year-old, a four-time winner on the DP World Tour, carded six birdies in his first eight holes in ideal scoring conditions early on at Royal Troon and another at the 11th left him needing to pick up two more strokes to equal the existing record of 62.

However, by then the sunny skies had clouded over and with rain falling in the links Lawrence revised his ambitions, especially after his only bogey at the 13th, but a round of 65 catapulted him to three under and into the top 10.

"It is moving day, as they say, and I definitely did it well," said Lawrence, whose best finish in his five majors to date is joint 42nd at the 2022 Open.

"Obviously I had the perfect conditions on the front nine and just took full advantage of it.

"You feel like it's going to be like that all day. No-one knew it was going to turn out the way the forecast said."

Asked whether the thought of a potential 62 or better crossed his mind he added: "It did, to be honest, but I know where the back nine lies.

"When the rain started to come, it was completely out of my mind.

"It can still happen, you can still shoot five-under going in the last seven or eight holes. I wouldn't say it's impossible but patience was on my mind.

"It was just about trying to stay patient and make pars and try not to give away the shots."