TURNBERRY, Scotland - The past and present had merged, if only for a while. On a day of fair skies and delightful possibilities, the 2009 British Open became a nostalgic stroll instead of difficult walk.

Men in their 40s, men in their 50s, shooting in the 60s. Men such as Tom Watson, such as Mark O'Meara, such as Mark Calcavecchia, former champions whose skills at the specialized demands of linksland golf have not diminished with time.

What a strange and fascinating opening round Thursday at Turnberry, alongside the Firth of Clyde, a round where Tiger Woods had the highest score of his threesome; a round where a Spaniard with a ponytail, Miguel Angel Jimenez, had the lowest score of the day, a 6-under 64.

It's the weather that determines what will transpire on a links course, and over the years Opens are infamous for gale-winds and pounding rain. Indeed, the first round of the 1986 Open at Turnberry was something off the pages of the Last Testament, only one golfer, Ian Woosnam, shooting as low as par of 156 starters.

But there hardly was a breeze Thursday. The sun was high. "She was defenseless,'' said Watson of Turnberry.

And so at age 59, Tom shot 5-under 65. And 52-year-old Mark O'Meara and 49-year-old Mark Calcavecchia shot 67s.

She was defenseless, and they were ageless.

You wonder if there's any connection with the countryside, where magic is said to exist. In Ayr, 18 miles beyond a few hills, flows the River Doon, which is crossed by the old Bridge of Doon, as the Scots say, "Brig o'Doon.''

From those words was created the name of the Broadway musical "Brigadoon,'' about a mythical village in Scotland which appears only every 100 years and in which the citizens never grow old.

Like O'Meara, winner in 1998? or Calcavecchia, winner in 1989? Or Tom Watson, winner five times, 1975, '77, '80, '82 and '83?

"Not bad for an almost 60-year-old,'' Watson who reaches that number in two months, mused of his round. Not bad for anyone no matter how old. Or young.

The odds makers indeed had made a man from Stanford University the favorite. But it wasn't Watson, class of '71; it was Tiger Woods, class '98, who never graduated.

Tiger shot a 1-over 71. At 33, he gave Watson 26 years and six shots.

Woods also came in third in his threesome, one of whom was a 17-year-old Japanese pro, Ryo Ishikawa, and the other was a slightly heavy Englishman, Lee Westwood. Each shot 68, three shots better than the guy who is No. 1 in the world rankings.

Watson simply gave everyone a reminder greatness never leaves. Besides the five British Open victories, he has three more in Senior British Opens, one of those at Turnberry.

The Open is virtually the only event on links courses, because that's where the first Opens were played in the 1850s, at Prestwick, some 25 miles up the coast.

The weather has been wonderful throughout Britain this summer - Wimbledon had maybe 20 minutes of rain, total - and if it doesn't change quickly, scores are going to be ridiculously low.

Reminiscent of those beautiful days the last two rounds of the '77 Open at Turnberry when, in the so-called "Duel in the Sun,'' Watson shot 65-65 to edge Nicklaus, who had 65-66.

Nicklaus stopped playing the British after St. Andrews in 2005, but in a sense he was at Turnberry on Thursday. Jack's wife, Barbara, texted Tom on Wednesday evening wishing him luck.

"I texted her back,'' Watson explained, "and said, ‘You know we really miss you over here.' And I really meant it. It's not the same without Jack playing in this tournament.''.

Open champions have exemptions now, after a new regulation, only until they are 60. Nicklaus is 69.

Watson said knowledge of links golf, played more on the ground than in the air, as is its American counterpart, gave him and the other veterans an edge.

"We have an advantage,'' Watson insisted. "The older guys have an advantage. We've played under these conditions, and we kind of get a feel for it. And that feel is worth its weight in gold when you're playing.''.

A year ago, at Royal Birkdale, Greg Norman, then 53, made a run at the title until the final holes. Watson wouldn't guess where he might go.

"Sixty-five is the way to start,'' he said. "Will I be able to handle the pressure? I don't know. Whether I'm in the hunt, who knows. The pressure may be too much too handle. But I've been there before.''

At his age, it's doubtful he will be there again. But as said with a nod, "I think there was some spirituality out there.''

That alone makes it all worth while.