Callum Shinkwin’s Open Championship is off to a promising start after shooting a one-under-par opening round at Royal Portrush.

The Moor Park-attached professional made four birdies in his first-round 70 to sit in a tie for 22nd at the time of writing, four shots behind leader Jon Rahm.

The 26-year-old secured a place in his third Open through Final Qualifying and got his campaign off on a positive note with a birdie four at the par-five second.

The Watford-born golfer then played par golf until dropping back to level with a bogey five at the ninth.

This started an up-and-down sequence of scoring as Shinkwin began the back nine at the County Antrim course – birdies on the par fourth 10th and par five 12th split by a bogey five at 11th.

Shinkwin’s fourth birdie came with a three at 15, only for a five on the last to see him end his opening 18 holes on one-under.

While Shinkwin is safely in the clubhouse, Matt Wallace is battling back after a difficult start to his championship.

The Moor Park honorary member, who is partnering Tiger Woods during the first two days, found himself at four-over after a double bogey six at the fourth was followed by two more dropped shots with a five at the par three fifth.

However, the world number 23 stopped the rot with a birdie three at the eighth and has moved back to plus-two with at three at 10.