Adam Scott says a change in mindset helped him card a six-under 64 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the British Open.
The Australian holed eight birdies and two bogeys at Royal Lytham and St Annes on Thursday, leaving him a shot clear of the chasing back.
Scott's round was the equal lowest Open round at Royal Lytham, with American Tom Lehman managing a 64 on his way to victory in 1996.
The 32-year-old took advantage of the good conditions early in the day and said approaching the opening round differently paid dividends.
"Maybe (I was) too conservative and almost too patient (previously)," Scott said.
"I was playing so well going into the US Open I felt and all of a sudden I was seven over through 15 holes of the tournament and you can't pick up that many shots in a major.
"So to focus and play the first hole at the tournament like it's the 72nd and you've got to make three to win was kind of my mindset on the first tee this morning - really switch on right from the first tee and not just see how it goes for the first few holes.
"That was really the difference.
I didn't hit that good of shots but I was really focused on what I was doing the first few holes today."
A bogey on the 18th hole prevented Scott from matching the record for lowest round at any major tournament.
Scott would have become the 24th player to shoot a 63 in major history and he said a round of 62 crossed his mind on the 17th tee.
"I know there's never been a 62. And I was waiting to use the bathroom going to the 17th tee and I did look at the leaderboard and realised it was a par 70," he said.
"I also probably realised that I wasn't going to be the guy to shoot 62. It's one of those things that you don't want to go through your mind, thinking about your final score and stuff like that.
"I got rid of that quickly and got on to playing the 17th, but unfortunately dropped one up the last."
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