Louis Oosthuizen shares the lead after the first round of the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews

Story highlights

South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen shares the lead at the Dunhill Links Championship, St Andrews

Markus Brier, Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Michael Hoey also shot rounds of 66

U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell put his poor form behind him, firing a 67

20-year-old Tom Lewis the surprise package with a four-under-par 68

CNN  — 

South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen returned to the scene of his greatest triumph to share the first-round lead of the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.

Oosthuizen lifted the famous Claret Jug when he won his only major at the British Open last year, and enjoyed a happy return with a six-under-par round of 66.

“It’s nice to come back and experience everything again,” Oosthuizen told the European Tour’s official web site.

“There’s nothing better than holding the Claret Jug at St Andrews. Hopefully at the end of the week it’s just a different trophy.”

He shares the lead with three others: Markus Brier of Austria, Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey.

But some of golf’s biggest names are within striking distance.

U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell, who has struggled for form since his heroics during the last Ryder Cup, shot a five-under-par 67.

“I’ve got more clarity of thought with my game, which excites me,” he said.

“At one point in August I really wasn’t looking forward to a busy schedule at the end of the season.”

Padraig Harrington, defending champion Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood and Colin Montgomerie all sit two shots off the lead.

But the round of the day came from Englishman Tom Lewis.

Lewis burst on to the scene after firing a record 65 at the Open Championship last summer, the lowest score by an amateur in the tournament’s history.

He has since gone professional and shot a first-round four-under-par 68, but it could have been so much better after the 20-year-old double bogeyed his final hole.

“I’m disappointed in my finish but four-under is not going to leave me too far behind,” Lewis told the European Tour’s official web site.

“It’s great that I’m here but it’s disappointing that I’m not top of the leader board. It’s going to leave a bad memory.”