JORDAN Smith's promising start to his Open Championship debut faltered as Carnoustie's notorious back nine bit back on day one in Scotland today.

The Derry Hill player, featuring in only his second major championship after appearing in last summer's US PGA Championship, carded an opening round of 74 - three over par - to lie eight shots behind the first round leader, Kevin Kisner, of the United States.

Smith, 25, was among the last to start their Championship challenge on the opening day with conditions slightly tougher in the afternoon, but showed few signs of nerves in the early stages.

The Bowood man reeled off five straight pars to open and then carded a birdie at the par five sixth hole to dip under par for the first time.

A second birdie followed at the ninth as Smith went to the turn in 34 strokes to lie just three adrift of Kisner at that point.

However, the course exacted retribution as the Wiltshire man turned for home, Smith dropping three shots in three of the next four holes and requiring an expert sand save from a bunker at the 11th.

He stemmed the bleeding with a two-putt birdie at the long 14th but immediately handed that shot back at the next as Carnoustie's treacherous finishing holes started to bite.

Two more shots went at the 17th and 18th leaving Smith with some work to do tomorrow to ensure he makes the cut after 36 holes.

He was due to tee off his second round at 10.53am on Friday morning