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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Highlights from the opening round of The Open Championship from Royal Birkdale
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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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
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.
“Every time I made a stupid mistake, thankfully I made a birdie to keep myself in it,” McIlroy admitted. “Not too far away. Hopefully we’ll get the better conditions tomorrow and maybe the greens are a little bit smoother in the morning. Go out there and shoot a good one and get myself right back in it for the weekend.”
Rory McIlroy is seven strokes off the lead after the opening round of The Open
DeChambeau impresses as Suber sets pace
World No 115 Suber has never finished higher than 73rd in a major and has never won on the PGA Tour, but the American is the man to catch after mixing six birdies and three bogeys with a brilliant eagle at the par-five 17th.
“This was only my fifth day ever in Europe, so I’m definitely learning the links course!” Suber said. “I settled a little more on the back nine and felt more comfortable.”
Thomas Detry was part of the opening group at 6.35am and the first player to post a three-under 67, with Robert MacIntyre, 2018 champion Francesco Molinari and Players champion Cameron Young among the others in the logjam two back alongside DeChambeau.
DeChambeau had missed the cut in each of the last three majors and seen his links strategy questioned by six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo, although the two-time US Open champion threatened the lead until a final-hole bogey.
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Speaking on the Sky Sports Golf podcast, Sir Nick Faldo criticised Bryson DeChambeau’s approach to strategy
“I feel like I did a really good job today of being incredibly strategic and focused super hard on placing it in the right places,” DeChambeau said. “Besides 18, I placed the ball in some good areas. I just need to hit more fairways. Other than that, I feel like my strategy was nice today.”
Scheffler birdied four of his opening six holes but slipped three behind after making two bogeys over the rest of his round, with 38 players under-par after a breezy opening day in firm and fast conditions.
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Scottie Scheffler birdied four out of his first six holes during a fast start to his bid for back-to-back Open titles
PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai is part of the group one over and Matt Fitzpatrick joins McIlroy seven back, while Justin Rose looks in danger of missing the cut after a five-over 75.
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.
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