CARNOUSTIE, Scotland — Kevin Kisner spent the night before Thursday’s first round of the British Open playing backyard soccer at a rental home with his housemates, a group that included five golfers with a combined eight major golf championships.

The laid-back atmosphere apparently inspired Kisner. He had never finished better than a tie for 54th in three previous British Opens, but Kisner finished Thursday in sole possession of the lead, at 5-under-par 66, behind an early eagle and four subsequent birdies.

Kisner finished one stroke ahead of Tony Finau, an American who finished in the top 10 at the Masters and the U.S. Open this year, and two South Africans: Zander Lombard and Erik van Rooyen, who was making his British Open debut.

Tiger Woods seemed poised to join that group as he stood at 2-under through 12 holes. But he stumbled with two bogeys in the next three holes and finished at even par.

Still, on the punishing and devilish Carnoustie Golf Links, Woods was in contention.

“I played better than what the score indicates, and I think it’s reasonable where I am,” he said. “I wanted something under par. I missed by a little.”

Woods finished ahead of several other prominent contenders. The reigning Masters champion Patrick Reed shot 4-over 75, and the world’s top ranked golfer, Dustin Johnson, shot 76.

Also Thursday:

LPGA Tour’s Lincicome shoots 78 in PGA Tour debut: NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — Brittany Lincicome has a huge hole to climb out of if she hopes to make golf history.

Lincicome shot a 6-over 78 in the first round of the Barbasol Championship, leaving the LPGA Tour pro’s goal of making the cut likely out of reach.

Lincicome was hoping to become the second woman to make the cut in a men’s event and the first since Babe Zaharias in 1945. She’s the first woman to get a PGA Tour start since Michelle Wie a decade ago.

Troy Merritt surged to the first-round lead with a 10-under 62, equaling the course record on the Champion Trace course at Keene Trace Golf Club, which is hosting the event for the first time.

However, much of Thursday’s attention centered on Lincicome, whose eight LPGA Tour victories include two majors.

Although Lincicome expected to struggle with the length of the golf course, her worst holes were two par 3s.

She played the other 16 holes in 1 over, making her only birdie on the par-4 third.

Lincicome would likely need a round in the mid-60s on Friday to make the cut.

“If I can drive it like I did today and just make a few putts here and there, I think I’ll be back in good shape,” Lincicome said.

“She’s a very solid player,” said playing partner Sam Ryder, who shot a 68.

“Lincicome’s goal now is remembering what she did well and using it to salvage what’s left of her PGA Tour debut.