Carnoustie, Scotland ? The kid from Holywood sure looks like a star.

Of course, Rory McIlroy also looks like he got into the British Open with one of those tickets that allows juniors in free if they’re with an adult.

Whatever the case, the baby-faced teen from Northern Ireland – who claims to be all of 18 but could pass for even younger – beat up on most of the grown-ups Thursday while shooting the only bogey-free opening round at Carnoustie.

Justifiably proud of his 3-under-par 68, McIlroy pondered the improbable: For one night, at least, he’d go to bed with a one-stroke edge on Tiger Woods, the two-time defending Open champion and the youngster’s No. 1 role model.

“I think he’ll be able to sleep all right,” McIlroy joked. “But, yeah, it’s a pretty special feeling to say you shot one better than Tiger.”

Woods wasn’t the only one looking up to McIlroy after 18 holes.

He bested his playing partners, Henrik Stenson and Miguel Angel Jimenez. Only two players – leader Sergio Garcia (65) and Paul McGinley (67) – went lower than the lad from Holywood.

That would be Holywood, Northern Ireland, a town of 12,000 near Belfast that shares a pronunciation with America’s movie capital, though hardly the glamour.

McIlroy was just three strokes off the lead, and he could have been even closer if not for a three-putt par at No. 6 and a 3-foot birdie attempt that slid by the cup at 14.

There weren’t many moments like that, though. For the most part, McIlroy was cheered by steadily increasing galleries, the fans taking the floppy haired kid under their wing and carrying him through to the 18th, where he received a rousing ovation.

“I got a chill down the back of my spine,” McIlroy said.