The Sports Matrix: Friday 20 July 2012

Scott pleased with lead after opening round of 64

Adam Scott took the lead after the first round of The Open at Lytham yesterday with an excellent round of 64, three better than the pre-tournament favourite Tiger Woods and one ahead of the rest of the field.

The Australian's round might have been even better but for a bogey on the 18th hole. "It's one of those things that you don't want to go through your mind," he said, "thinking about your final score and stuff like that. Unfortunately, I dropped one up the last."

But Scott was understandably pleased with his opening round: "I was not really expecting it to play like this. It was just like a nice walk in the park today, not what we've experienced in the practice rounds."

Scott thanked his caddie Steve Williams for helping him with the right mentality. "We talked about that mindset. He wanted me to go to that first tee today like it was the 72nd hole. That was a good little trigger."

Paul Lawrie, Zach Johnson and Nicolas Colsaerts are all one shot back, while Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Woods are three shots behind. MORE

Pearce revels in 'special' feeling

Team GB football coach Stuart Pearce said the atmosphere in the camp, ahead of tonight's game with Brazil, was "special". "The magnitude is just incredible. It's even different to the England squads I've been in. It's just slightly different in some way, shape or form." MORE

Hoy will not defend sprint title

Sir Chris Hoy will not defend all three of his Olympic golds, after yesterday's announcement that Jason Kenny will ride the sprint instead of him. Kenny beat Hoy in the sprint semi-final of the world championship earlier this year, and Hoy said Kenny "deserves the opportunity". MORE

Wiggins closes in on Tour triumph

Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome virtually ensured British Tour victory yesterday, pulling away from Vincenzo Nibali. "For the first time in the whole race I thought I might have won the Tour," Wiggins said, with only injury able to stop him winning on Sunday. MORE

Cook century puts England on top

Alastair Cook said it was "very special" to score his 20th Test century yesterday, as his unbeaten 114 helped England to 267 for 3 at the end of the first day of the first Test against South Africa at The Oval. He put on 170 for the second wicket with Jonathan Trott. MORE

King succumbs to knee injury

The Tottenham Hotspur captain Ledley King has been forced to retire from the game due to a long-standing knee injury. The centre-back, 31, made 323 appearances in 13 years at White Hart Lane, and won 21 caps with England. MORE

Hamilton hungry as he reaches ton

Lewis Hamilton has spoken of his pride at reaching 100 grands prix as he prepares for the German GP. "It's very satisfying to reach 100," he said. "It's an incredible milestone. Starting one was a dream, and now I've got to 100. I can't really believe it." MORE

GB comfortably beaten by the US

Great Britain were last night handed a lesson by the United States in Manchester in their pre-Games warm-up, going down 118-78. After staying in contention in the opening quarter, the US were too strong, with Deron Williams impressing. MORE

Nadal forced to pull out of Games

Rafael Nadal yesterday pulled out of the Games due to a long-standing knee injury. The Spaniard had been set to carry his country's flag at the opening ceremony. "It is one of the saddest moments of my career," the 2008 champion said. MORE

Opinion: James Lawton

The real Tiger Woods made a brief appearance at the 141st Open yesterday – and then disappeared. However, he promised to return today and no one could say he hadn't left a superb calling card. MORE