Shock leader Jean Van de Velde made an uncertain start at Carnoustie today as he attempted to become the first Frenchman since 1907 to win the Open.

Starting the day with a five-shot cushion, two early bogeys in the first three holes left his lead looking fragile.

Van de Velde began with a par four on the first after an excellent second shot played with an awkward stance on the edge of a fairway bunker.

Playing partner Craig Parry also began with a par to stay five behind Van de Velde who found no-one really making an early move.

Tiger Woods began with three pars, Greg Norman three pars and then a bogey on the fourth and Andrew Coltart dropped a shot on the second.

Only Angel Cabrera of the later starters made an early birdie, holing from 15 feet at the third to get to seven over.

But Van de Velde dropped a shot on the second, missing from four feet after finding a greenside bunker, his nerves not being helped by being forced to wait 15 minutes on the tee as David Frost sought a ruling up ahead.

That cut Van de Velde's lead to four shots and it was soon slashed in half again with a two-shot swing on the third.

A wayward drive cost Van de Velde a bogey five while playing partner Parry played a superb second to four feet for a birdie to get to four over and only two strokes back.

Van de Velde and Parry both parred the fourth and fifth, the Frenchman saving par from 25ft on the fourth after another wayward tee shot.

Parry was then joined in second place by Leonard who made his first birdie of the day with a curling 20ft effort on the sixth to get to four over.

Local favourite Paul Lawrie was also making a move, reaching the turn in 34 and picking up another shot at the 12th when his approach stopped stone dead.

Davis Love took the clubhouse lead on 10-over-par after an excellent two-under 69 which included seven birdies. It left him in the top ten but unless the wind got up dramatically it looked too high to trouble the leaders.

Ryder Cup colleague Jim Furyk also shot a 69 to climb into the top 15.