- Royal Birkdale, Day One: Talk about your fascinating leaderboards!  On a day in which the early starters drew the short straw (the average morning score was 77, with not a single player breaking par) afternoon players Graeme McDowell, Robert Allenby and, yes, Rocco Mediate, carried the day with rounds of one-under-par 69.  McDowell, once an elite prospect and in top form after winning last week’s Scottish Open, is hardly a surprise atop the board – though if he remains there on Sunday evening, that might raise an eyebrow or two.  Allenby, on the other hand, has evolved into one of the game’s crafty veterans, plying his trade mostly in America and routinely logging strong finishes – though not, in recent years, bushels of wins.  Were he to win the Open, it might come as something of a surprise to many – but compared to the Todd Hamilton and Ben Curtis types of recent years, Allenby would be a veritable household name.  And as for Rocco…  Well, the great Mr. Mediate stands on the verge of going from underrated veteran to cult hero in a month’s time, pushing Tiger to the limit in a now-legendary U.S. Open playoff and now, rather suddenly, contending at Royal Birkdale.  Can he win?  Of course not.  But then I distinctly recall saying that at Torrey Pines as well…and subsequently answering more than one phone call during the playoff from friends ready to hang me out to dry.  Mediate, of course, is also one of golf’s truly nice guys, so I’d very much enjoy being proven wrong for a second time.  And what of the threesome at even par, one off the pace?  Greg Norman?  Amazing, astonishing and…  Actually, from what I’ve seen this season, the Shark still has a lot of game left – and now, apparently, some renewed motivation provided by new wife Chris Evert.  Picking Norman to win, obviously, would be absurd, but I can’t think of anyone in golf not named Tiger who would inject as large a jolt of electricity over the weekend as Norman, should he somehow manage to hang around.  Bart Bryant?  One of the American tour’s true late bloomers…but ready to win the Open?  And then there is Adam Scott, the world’s fourth-ranked player and a man who absolutely, positively should be in the running at most every Major…but virtually never has been.  Frequently, however, it has been poor starts that have derailed Scott, and this week he’s so far sitting pretty.  Clearly he’d have to be the top pick from among the leading six.  But, as always, we’ll know A LOT more at this time tomorrow…
 
- Meanwhile…: When was the last time a pair of brothers held the lead in a PGA Tour event?  I haven’t the faintest idea, and it didn’t happen yesterday – but only because Richard S. Johnson (the S clearly delineating him from fellow Tour player Richard Johnson) came in with a late 63, to lead the U.S. Bank Championship by a single stroke over South African siblings Brenden and Deane Pappas.  Sadly, this longstanding event has been relegated to sideshow status by being scheduled opposite the Open Championship – though by being played over a short, dull municipal layout, its upside would today be severely limited regardless of schedule slot.  Lots of coveted FedEx Cup points available, though…  Oh yes, and red-hot Kenny Perry opened with a three-under-par 67, to trail by four.
 
- Meanwhile II: With most of the world elite absent, not too many eyes are focused on the LPGA’s State Farm Classic either.  Too bad really, as Christina Kim uncorked a flawless seven-birdie, one-eagle 63 on Thursday, yet found herself only one-stroke ahead of Sun Young Yoo, and two over Jee Young Lee and Kristy McPherson.  Notably, Michelle Wie posted a quiet five-under-par 67, to trail by four – and how happy would LPGA brass be to find her in contention come Sunday?