The best photos from the opening round of the British Open

With the first round of the British Open in the books, it's time to look back on the highs and lows from the day with some of the best photos from the day. Once again, the photographers at Royal Lytham outdid themselves on Thursday.

We count down our favorite five after the jump.

How can you not love this bunker shot with the grandstands and bright yellow leaderboard in the background? It's your typical British Open shot.

Here's one of Rory McIlroy teeing off with a sea of fans around him. We don't think he clocked anyone with this drive.

This one gives you the sense that the photographer is stalking Luke Donald in the weeds. Kinda creepy? Maybe. But it gives you a sense of just how tall the rough is at Royal Lytham.

This is likely the hole that ended Phil Mickelson's British Open chances. After attempting to blast out of a bunker on the par-4 eighth, Mickelson watched as the ball disappeared a couple feet in front of him. He took an unplayable and carded his second straight bogey.

For some reason, I love the red brick homes in the background as Y.E. Yang putts.

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