Although Goosen bogeyed 15, 16 and 18 in an up and down finish, his one-over-par 71 was three strokes better than any of the other early starters at a wind-buffeted Royal Birkdale.
Irishman Padraig Harrington, beginning his title defence with a wrist injury, eked out a 74 to finish level with five-times champion Tom Watson, Britain's Justin Rose and Australian Brendan Jones.
American Davis Love III opened with a 75 while 2002 winner Ernie Els dropped nine shots over the back nine on his way to an 80, his worst start in 18 British Opens.
Although Birkdale is widely regarded as one of the fairest courses on the championship rota, the players toiled for survival in driving rain and gusts of more than 50-kph (30-mph).
"It played extremely tough," Goosen told reporters. "The ball was going absolutely nowhere into the wind, pretty much on every hole. It was a battle out there.
"I made a bad double bogey on five but I chipped in for par on the next. That chip-in sort of turned the nine around.
"Those first few holes are very tough. From nine onwards I sort of got my game going. I'm happy with the round."
Harrington, who won last year's title at Carnoustie in a playoff with Spaniard Sergio Garcia, was also satisfied with his start after fearing he might not be able to play this week.
Club Release
"At the first (hole) I struggled to release the club on my right side and I missed a number of shots on the right," the 36-year-old said. "But on the back nine I was much more solid.
"The bad day actually helped because there was no time for me to think too much about the shots," added Harrington, who has been troubled by a sore right wrist since jarring it when using an 'impact' bag in the gym at the weekend.
"I've just got to try and deal with the problem and thankfully it was okay."
Of the other big names, three-times major winner Phil Mickelson lost his ball in thick rough short of the green at the par-four sixth en route to an ugly triple-bogey seven. With three holes to play, he was seven over.
Birkdale's bad weather claimed an early casualty when former champion Sandy Lyle withdrew after 10 holes.
The 50-year-old Scot, winner in 1985 at Royal St George's, ran up double-bogeys on the seventh and eighth and a triple-bogey on the ninth.
"I'd lost all momentum, my fingers were numb and I couldn't feel the club," said Lyle, who was 11 over par when he quit.
Tournament favourite Garcia was among the late starters, with weather conditions expected to improve.
