Kisner first round leader in benign Open conditions

Jul 19, 2018; Carnoustie, SCT; Kevin Kisner plays his shot from the 15th tee during the first round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Carnoustie Golf Links. Mandatory Credit: Ian Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (Reuters) - Kevin Kisner put a mediocre links record aside and surged to the first-round lead with a five-under-par 66 at the British Open at a fiery fast and baked-out Carnoustie on Thursday.

On a day when some of the game's less famous outscored the big names, Kisner earned a one-stroke lead over long-hitting fellow American Tony Finau and South Africans Erik van Rooyen and Zander Lombard.