All of the players in the top-10 – with the exception of World No.1 Scottie Scheffler and fellow American Dustin Johnson, who finished with four under 68s – heading into the second round are on the early-late side of draw having experienced slightly less wind, and gusts, than those on the late-early half of the draw. In fact, scoring was nearly three shots higher on average in the afternoon.

Flags tucked behind cavernous pot bunkers or just beyond dramatic slopes, demanded precise ball-striking to all corners of the course to ensure good scoring.

But it is the increasing firmness of the Old Course fairways that will remain the talk among players for the next three days as some of the biggest names in the game try to solve strategic puzzle laid in front of them.

Here is what some players are saying about the Old Course after the opening round.

Bryson DeChambeau (69)

“Even with it being so firm even with 3,000 spin on my driver, which I inherently did for this week, I can't control it in the fairway. So, I've got to play a 4-iron that can still run 300 yards and have wedges in from there. It does take driver out of play quite a bit.

And even 3-wood on 9 (a 352-yard par-4) was too much and there's bunkers that are kind of diabolical. You've got to strategise your way around this golf course really well and it's not simple by any means.”

Rory McIlroy plays a shot out of the wispy rough en route to a 66. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Rory McIlroy (66)

“If there's no rain in the forecast, it might get a touch firmer, especially the greens. I definitely noticed today some of the high points in the greens were getting a little burnt out and bare.

“And I think because of that, there are certain areas of certain greens that were a little faster than others. So that's something just to keep an eye on over the next few days.”

Phil Mickelson (72)

“I think it's set up really well to reward good shots and make birdies. There's a number of birdie holes out there, and there's a lot of hard pars. There's some tough pins that you can miss it in the wrong spot and really have issues.

“But if you hit good shots, you're rewarded. I just thought it was a pretty awesome setup and condition and the whole thing.

“There are challenges with the winds moving around and so forth, but there's always ways to play the holes, always ways to make your par. It's just one of the most fun golf courses in the world to play.”

“This place is getting firmer and firmer. I had some putts today that I thought, wow, that's glass.” – Local favourite, Robert MacIntyre.

Zach Johnson (72)

“It's hard to hit it close. And I hit some errant shots that was really frustrating. I guess my frustration, if I have any, which I do, is the mere fact that I think the golf course is absolutely spectacular.

“And I don't know if it necessarily favours anybody right now. Style, cut, draw. I just think it favours the individual that hits it the most in the middle of the face, and obviously has great speed on their putts, because it's really difficult to get the ball close.

“8-under (from Cameron Young) is a joke. But 3 to 5-under is out there. That's really good golf.”

Cameron Young (64)

“If you start hitting it on the wrong sides of holes, you're going to have a rough day kind of regardless of what conditions are.

“But it's very firm, and it's definitely doable if you're in all the right places. But if you're not, you're going to really struggle.”

Most of the Old Course's 110 bunkers were in play. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Xander Schauffele (69)

“I heard whispers and rumours out there they're going to trick it up as much as possible because it's too easy. I don't really know what course they're talking about.

“But with the wind like this, it can be easy-ish, I guess, or not super hard to make birdies; but if the wind picked up another 10 miles an hour, it would be a lot different story here.”

Francesco Molinari (73)

“You have to accept that you're not 100 percent in control of where the ball goes, but that's always the same with the links golf, especially when it's as firm as it is now.”

Rob MacIntyre (70)

“This place is getting firmer and firmer. I had some putts today that I thought, wow, that's glass.”

"It's all just good fun," according to Danny Willett. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Danny Willett (69)

“I think it's just good fun. You can just cleverly golf your ball around this place. You can hit certain shots that you wouldn't ordinarily hit. You're trying to use the wind to soften the flight. You're playing your round of golf a lot. You're not just standing there hitting the same shot time and time again.

“You see a lot of different approaches down different holes. Guys hitting anything from 4-irons to drivers, depends on what they see, what shot shape they hit. And so I think it lends itself to real nice shot-making and nice visualisation. You can run it up to certain flags like 17. Some guys trying to spin it and hold it softly against the wind. There's just lots of things you can do.”

“If you look back at the Opens around this place, they're very, very good winners. Real good ball-strikers, good flight. People can fly the ball really well. It's just a nice shot-maker's golf course.”