Birthday Boy: Robert Trent Jones, the legendary golf course architect, made a huge hit with media types Thursday when he invited everyone to a Friday morning breakfast.

Jones, who will turn 93 on Sunday, hosted a reception from 8-10 a.m., where he discusssed trends in architecture and his impressions of Donald Ross’s Pinehurst No. 2. Jones is still active and is currently involved with course projects in Nevada and California.

Jones’ son, Rees, was hired to restore No. 2 three years ago for the U.S. Open.

Droll Duval: David Duval plays some of the most exciting golf on the PGA Tour and is off to a great start in the open with a 67 on Thursday. But his answers to some questions don’t have quite the same fire.

Asked if the birdie he made on the par-3 17th hole gave him an added boost going into Friday’s second round, he replied:

"It gives me no more boost than the birdie on No. 2 or the birdie on 15. That’s just one of the holes out there and I happened to make birdie on it. It’s one of 18 I had to play today."

Asked what he did during a layoff after Masters, Duval said: "A whole lot of nothing, I guess. I practiced some and worked out. That’s my day. That’s my life."

Nice Touch: Defending Open champion Lee Janzen knows how to make friends with the younger set. Leaving the locker room for a practice session on Wednesday, Janzen started out the back entrance toward the 18th green where hundreds of fans were waiting, scraps of papers, scorecards and caps hopefully extended for autographs.

One of the security guards took him by the arm and said, "You can go out this way," pointing to a roped off side exit.

Janzen just smiled and said, "Thanks, but I want to go out this way." And he worked his way patiently through the delighted throng.

Sleepy Front Nine: Ted Tryba, starting play at 6:40 a.m. yesterday, completed his first round with a 72.

He shot even-par 35 on the front before posting a 37 on the back.

"They had a few good pins out there," Tryba said. "You couldn’t really go for it, despite the wet conditions. You had to play for the center of the green.

"Ten was a particularly tough pin. There was tough one on 14. Actually 15 was tough too. It got really tough on the back nine.

"I’m not sure I was awake on the front nine."

The previous earliest time for the starting times during an Open was 7 a.m.

Jack’s Layoff: Jack Nicklaus, coming off hip surgery, joked with reporters about getting his game back together after an almost six-month layoff. "About the time I get back to being strong enough, I’ll probably quit," Nicklaus said with a laugh.

Better Weather?: Colin Montgomerie of Scotland was looking forward to eating after finishing up his 72 Thursday. He birdied the last two holes in posting his two-over par round.

"I’m just delighted with my birdie, birdie finish," Montgomerie said. "It will make dinner taste much better."