LUKE Donald made an excellent start to the Open with a four under par round of 68.

The Hazlemere and Beaconsfield Golf Club member teed off early yesterday with Open legends Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.

This year's Open is the last ever major Nicklaus will ever compete in and the crowds were out in force to get behind the golfing legend.

But Donald cut out the noise of the spectators to craft an excellent round over the tricky links course.

Amazingly, the 27-year-old has yet to make a cut at the Open in three attempts as a professional but he is favourite among the bookies to become the first Briton to win a major since Paul Lawrie beat Jean Van de Velde at Carnoustie in 1999.

Donald said: "I'm not coming here just to make the cut, I'm coming here to win this championship."

And Donald reckons playing with Nicklaus and Watson will help him, unlike his Open appearance alongside Tiger Woods two years ago.

He said: "This is quite an honour to be playing with Jack and Tom. Two years ago, I didn't feel that great playing with Tiger Woods but I'm used to playing with the big names now.

"As I've got to know these guys on a personal basis, they lose their aura as world-class players and become your friends and then it's a little less daunting playing with them."

Donald began steadily before picking up a birdie on the third hole. Another birdie followed on the fifth as he went out in 34.

A bogey put him back to one under after 11 but consecutive birdies on the 13th and 14th holes gave Donald an excellent start.

He is due to tee off in his second round at 12.58pm today.