The Associated Press
SUNNINGDALE, England - Four days after his heart-rending playoff defeat to Stewart Cink at Turnberry, Tom Watson shot a 3-under 67 on Thursday to begin his pursuit of a fourth Senior British Open title.
The 59-year-old Watson, who almost became the oldest major champion at the British Open last weekend, was three shots behind leader Fred Funk.
Funk birdied five of his last eight holes, including holing a bunker shot at No. 17, for a 6-under 64 - the lowest opening round in the history of the championship.
"The first nine could have been three or four over, and the back could have been eight under," said Funk, who had a two-shot lead over fellow Americans Jay Haas and Loren Roberts, Des Smyth of Ireland and Christopher Williams of South Africa.
Watson was another stroke back and tied with Tom Kite, Jerry Bruner, Greg Norman of Australia and Sam Torrance of Scotland.
Bernhard Langer, who has two Champions Tour wins this year, opened with a 72.
Watson was 3-under-par after five holes. He had no bogeys and two birdies the rest of the way.
"I made a few early putts maybe I shouldn't have made and I missed some I should have made," Watson said. "I had birdie chances on the last four holes but didn't make them. It was a good score. Maybe it could have been better.
Watson birdied the long first at Sunningdale, then made a 10-footer to save par. He also made par at the third, despite hitting his tee shot into the rough, before birdies on the next two holes.
A heavy shower at the sixth changed the nature of the greens, and Watson struggled with his putting the rest of the round.
Haas, who has won 12 times on the Champions Tour, was shaky with his putter on the front.
After three bogeys in seven holes, he did not drop any more shots to par the rest of the round.