Last week, Watson took his 12-year-old son, Michael, on a golfing trip in Ireland and Scotland to prepare for his 21st Open a year after blowing a chance to win No. 6 at Turnberry. He was in contention after three rounds there, then took himself out with a disheartening 74.

I was most disappointed at Turnberry, said Watson, who did not win any of his five titles at St. Andrews. But I don’t let those moments hang around very long. I would like very much to win here. I’d love to win at St. Andrews.

A breaking and breathtaking 75-foot birdie putt at the first hole got him off and running toward that goal, but tricky left-to-right breezes were not helping him. He turned the front at even-par 36, started the backside with an 8-foot birdie at the 342-yard 10th followed by a bogey when he somehow got a sand shot out of a mineshaft-deep bunker guarding the 172-yard 11th to within six feet. As is his habit in recent years, he missed the short putt to stay at even par.

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But as Norman said later he just played beautiful golf on the next three holes heading home. At the 316-yard No. 12, Watson hit a 60-yard sand wedge to eight feet and made the putt. At the 425-yard 13th, he was 154 yards from the hole with the wind now blowing right to left. Watson then hit what he called my favorite shot of the day, a 7-iron he started out to the right before the wind moved it about 20 yards left back toward the flag. His ball took a lovely kick further left and stopped four feet short. This time, he made the putt.

When I made that shot at 13, my spirits picked up, Watson said. That was fun. I played that shot once before. It’s the only way to get it between the Himalayas (two high mounds in front of the green). It’s a risky shot. But I’ve done it before and I wanted to try it again.

Norman had his own hazards to worry about. The No. 1 player in the world hurt his back two weeks ago at the Irish Open and was advised not to play the last two days. Instead, he spent most of his time being treated by trainers. Thursday morning, he was here at 6:20 a.m. for therapy, and there will more of the same Friday.

Norman still had a respectable score, getting to one-under at the 18th when, sore back or not, he drove the green and two-putted from 45 feet for his fourth birdie. Norman said he was only at about 50 to 55 percent and was not able to make a complete turn on his right side. Though Watson said it didn’t seem like it (his bad back) bothered him, Norman tried to keep loose with occasional stretching on tees and greens, and always put on a jacket after hitting.

After driving on No. 10, Norman went into a portable john installed inside the ropes for the players, followed by a trainer carrying a white towel. It’s a private matter, Norman’s caddy, Tony Navarro, growled at a reporter standing nearby. But rules official Will Nicholson, walking with the group, confirmed that Greg had something rubbed in his back. It’s allowed. A little heat stuff. You can smell it.