The Hartlepool golfer was forced to endure the worst of the weather on the Lancashire coastline as he began his fourth visit to an Open Championship with a 76.

The 30-year-old finished day one seven shots adrift of leading trio, Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, American Rocco Mediate and Australian Robert Allenby, and two strokes behind defending champ, Padraig Harrington.

Storm's six-over-par first round at Royal Birkdale may look a bit of a shocker – on paper at any rate – but he deserves great credit for his play yesterday.

There were no double or triple bogeys on his card.

And for evidence of his skill and fortitude, you just need to glance at the list of players who finished below him at the Southport links.

Two fancied men, Argentina's Andres Romero and England's Oliver Wilson shot 77s, Paul Casey a 78 and Phil Mickelson a 79 – golfing greats Vijay Singh and Ernie Els fared even worse with 80s.

One of Storm's playing partners, Sandy Lyle, quit just after the midway point of the round.

The 50-year-old former Open champion Sandy Lyle admitted he "chucked it" after being 11 over par after 10 holes.

The third member of the group, Scott Strange, did stick it out to the bitter end, but the Australian finished near the bottom of the pile with an 84 (14 over).

Storm and Strange were today due to tee off their second round at 12.28pm.

Not only was the wind gusting yesterday at Royal Birkdale, the rain made golf pretty much impossible.

Players were struggling to grip their wet clubs and then found it difficult keeping the ball on the fairways.

Storm performed well on the front nine and reached the turn on two over par after bogeys at the third and seventh.

The back nine was particularly treacherous and he suffered four bogey fives at 11, 13, 16 and 18, to sign for a 77.