Bryson DeChambeau and defending champion Scottie Scheffler both made encouraging starts to The 154th Open, as Rory McIlroy’s major hopes suffered an early setback.
Jackson Suber marked his Open debut and first visit to Europe by grabbing a shock major lead at Royal Birkdale, with a birdie-eagle run late in his round seeing him post a five-under 65.
Dan Brown and his playing partner Sungjae Im had set the initial target after carding opening-round 66s earlier in the day, with DeChambeau one of 10 players two off the pace after beginning his bid to avoid a fourth consecutive major missed cut with a three-under 67.
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Speaking after shooting an opening-round 67 at The Open, Bryson DeChambeau appeared to bite back at Sir Nick Faldo’s comments about lacking the strategy required for links golf
DeChambeau played alongside Scheffler, looking to become the first back-to-back winner since Padraig Harrington, with the world No 1 bouncing back from last week’s missed cut at the Genesis Scottish Open to open with a two-under 68.
Southport-born Tommy Fleetwood’s bid for a first English victory since 1992 saw him battle to an opening-round 69, leaving him alongside Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm, as McIlroy opened his bid for a seventh major title with a disappointing two-over 72.
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Sluggish major start for McIlroy
McIlroy rallied from an opening-round 71 to a tied-fourth finish at this venue in 2017 and will need another impressive comeback to get back into contention, having struggled on the greens and bogeyed both par-fives in another erratic display.
The 37-year-old – playing alongside Xander Schauffele and Matt Fitzpatrick – bogeyed both par-threes on his front nine, including a three-putt bogey at the seventh, with the world No 2’s putting woes continuing when he missed a four-foot birdie chance at the eighth.
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Rory McIlroy had a day to forget on the greens at Royal Birkdale, as he missed multiple putts from inside five feet
The Masters champion responded by driving the green at the par-four ninth and two-putt for birdie, only to miss putts on the next two holes and start his second nine with back-to-back bogeys.
A 25-foot birdie at the 13th raised hopes of a big finish for McIlroy, who then bogeyed the par-five next and cancelled a birdie at the par-three 15th with a bizarre blemish at the par-five 17th.
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Rory McIlroy drove the par-four ninth green to set-up a two putt birdie during his opening round
McIlroy’s left miss returned with his approach from gnarly grass and his third was knifed into a greenside bunker, with a sensational shot – on one leg – from the sand not rewarded with a par, but a brilliant birdie at the last lifted him seven behind Suber.
More to follow…
When is The Open live on Sky Sports?
Sky Sports is once again the exclusive home of The Open in the UK and Ireland, with wall-to-wall action from the final men’s major of the year continue on Friday at 6.30am on Sky Sports Golf.
Featured Groups will be available on Sky Sports+ or the Sky Sports App, along with a player focus feed, with extended coverage of The Open then starting at 9am on Saturday and 8am on Sunday on Sky Sports Golf.