Zach Johnson takes British Open lead with a 66

GULLANE, Scotland — Zach Johnson led and Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson loomed after Thursday’s first round of the British Open at Muirfield.

Johnson had four birdies, one eagle and a bogey for 66, five under par.

“All in all, very solid,” he said, “but it’s just one round.”

Woods and Mickelson, crowd favorites, were in a group of six only three shots back at 69. That group included 19-year-old Jordan Spieth, winner of last week’s John Deere Classic.

Woods, continuing to pursue his 15th major title and first since he won the U.S. Open in 2008 at Torrey Pines, began by yanking his opening tee shot into heavy rough and needing to take a drop that led to a bogey. But he steadied himself and is in striking distance with three days to go.

Mickelson, who won his first links golf title at the Scottish Open on Sunday and has proclaimed newfound love for the courses with the gorse, played a steady round and had the misfortune of ending up above the hole on No. 18 on his approach shot. His lag putt didn’t lag, but rolled, and rolled and rolled, and his comeback putt for par missed.

Mark O’Meara, 56, the 1998 champion, shared second place with Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello. Their 67s separated them from an interesting group of five at three under.

Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, at 49 best known in golf for indulging in fine cigars and male pony tails, posted his 67 first. Soon, American stars Brandt Snedeker and Dustin Johnson were in with the same totals.

“If I don’t have a major in my career,” Jimenez said, “It doesn’t mean you’re not a good player. It would be a nice plus.”

Snedeker, who was in contention for much of last year’s British at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, said, “I’m excited about everything I’m doing right now. I’m close to playing the best golf of my life.”

Also at three under were Tom Lehman, 54, who won this title at Royal Lytham in 1996, and unheralded Shiv Kapur of India.

Kapur, 31, got into the British by finishing second in an area qualifier. He also played in the 2006 British Open but missed the cut. He was born in New Delhi, played golf at Purdue, plays mostly on the Asian and European tours and dazzled everybody here by starting his round with six birdies in seven holes, even taking the lead for a short time.

But he double-bogeyed the 10th hole and held off most of the other demons to come home with a 68.

Masters champion Adam Scott shot 71, U.S. Open champion Justin Rose 75. Defending champion Ernie Els was three over with his 74, much better than twice-major champion Rory McIlroy’s 79 and former world No. 1 Luke Donald’s 80.

Players’ complaints about the extreme hardness and speed of the fairways and greens were met with the following reaction from the sanctioning Royal and Ancient group, on questions that the course was becoming unplayable: “Far from unplayable,” said Peter Dawson, the R&A;’s chief executive.

bill.dwyre@latimes.com