Walters leads Dunhill Links while Rose & Timberlake wrestle

Matthew Southgate from England leads two at his "home" course Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, St Andrews (first round) -9 J Walters (SA); -8 Ryan Fox (NZ), A Otaegui (Sp), V Perez (Fr), JL Smith (Eng); -7 J Ahlers (SA), Tapio Pulkkanen (Fin), R Ramsay (Sco), K Reitan (Nor), M Southgate (Eng), P Waring (Eng) Notable others: -6 T Fleetwood (Eng), T Hatton (Eng), C Hill (Sco), M Jordan (Eng), R Knox (Sco), R Rock (Eng); -4 L Donald (Eng), O Fisher (Eng), J Rose (Eng); -3 P Harrington (Ire); -2 R McIlroy (NI). Leaderboard

Justin Walters from South Africa has a slim lead after the opening round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Walters bought a nine-under-par 63 at the Old Course in St Andrews to lead by one of the Jordan Smith in England, Adrian Otaegui in Spain, Ryan Fox in New Zealand and Victor Perez in France .

Richie Ramsey of Scotland and Matthew Southgate and Paul Waring in England are a shot farther back. ]

"I am completely confused," said Southgate, a Carnoustie member since 16.

"It is a dream come true for me. I have waited a long time to go down that last time hole with that feeling. A very, very special day for me.

"In recent years I have struggled at this event when it gets so cold and I really struggled because I feel like that player.

"If I lose the feeling in my hands a bit, it is a bit of a nightmare in the knockdown shots but we were ble ssed with the weather today."

McIlroy father- son duo and Justins toil in rain

Justin Timberlake cooperates with Justin Rose

Fleetwood set the track record of 63 in Carnoustie in this event in 2017 and has finished second twice, including 12 months ago.

"I always score really well on this," said Fleetwood, who has not missed a part since the French Open last July. "It is always good to make a good lap and a good start here.

" I would like to have this event on my CV. Long way to go, but I've done well in the past and hopefully I'll have another chance on Sunday. "

World number two Rory McIlroy had to settle for a 70 after he hit his tee-shot out of reach for the sixth, his 15th hole of the day, but it wasn't all bad news.

The Northern Irish plays with his father, Gerry, in the team event and joked: "He thinks it is great and he played well today. He corrected me with five (shots) and his goal for the week was if he could improve me with four a day, 16 for the week, I think we have a decent chance. "

The McIlroys are under par, five of the lead at seven o'clock, which is two better than Justin Rose and music star Justin Timberlake.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Luis Figo gets a grip on the circumstances in St. Andrews