The opening round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale delivered several unexpected turns and strong performances. Among the most notable was Jackson Suber, who, in his first appearance at the tournament and his first trip to Europe, quickly adapted to links golf to take the lead with a five-under 65. His round included a crucial par save and an eagle late in the day.
Suber, a 26-year-old American, has yet to secure a professional win since his time at Ole Miss and is participating in only his third major tournament. His impressive round featured a challenging par save on the new par-three 15th hole, followed by a 6-foot birdie on the 16th. He then executed a 4-iron shot from 233 yards to within 6 feet for an eagle, showcasing his quick learning on a course as demanding as Birkdale.
Suber attributed his success to keeping the ball in advantageous positions, which minimized pressure on his game to make pars. He finished the day one shot ahead of Sungjae Im and Dan Brown of England. The group of nine players who shot 67 included four debutants at the Open: Alex Smalley, Ryan Gerard, M.J. Daffue, and Pierceson Coody.
DeChambeau’s Strategy Pays Off
Bryson DeChambeau also had a strong showing, despite missing the cut in his previous three majors this year and having limited interactions with the media outside of LIV Golf events. He posted a 67, placing him two shots behind the leader. His strategy, which involved frequently using his driver to bypass challenging bunkers, proved effective.
DeChambeau’s approach sparked discussion, with three-time British Open champion Nick Faldo commenting on his strategy earlier in the week. Faldo suggested that DeChambeau lacked a clear strategy for links courses, advocating for a more controlled, threaded approach rather than simply blasting the ball. Despite hitting only four fairways, DeChambeau missed only three greens and managed to avoid significant trouble when not in the short grass.
He executed powerful tee shots over hazards on the par-four second and par-four 10th holes, leading to birdies on both. While some, like Jon Rahm, cautioned that aggressive long shots could lead to difficulties, DeChambeau’s only dropped shots came from his putting on the par-five 14th and chipping on the par-four 18th. He was briefly tied for the early lead before a weak chip and a missed putt on the 18th.
Scheffler’s Mixed Round and McIlroy’s Struggles
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finished his round with a 68, despite not making a birdie over his final 12 holes. He played the two par-fives one over par and recorded two soft bogeys, also missing a 5-foot birdie putt. Scheffler expressed satisfaction with his ball-striking, noting that golf is played over 72 holes and he liked what he saw in his initial performance.
Scheffler began his round strongly, making four birdies in his first six holes and appearing to have complete control of his shots. He reached four under par after a 40-foot birdie putt dropped on the sixth hole. However, his momentum shifted when he missed the seventh green to the left, between bunkers, and his subsequent pitch shot nearly went into another bunker. He later missed a 5-foot birdie opportunity on the 11th and faced difficulties on the par-five 17th when his ball was deeply buried in the grass.
In contrast, Rory McIlroy experienced a challenging start, recording six bogeys in his round of 72. He notably missed three 4-foot putts within a four-hole stretch, contributing to his struggles on the day. The opening round, which extended for approximately 15 hours, featured a warm and breezy start, and saw five of the top 12 players making their British Open debut.
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Source: theglobeandmail.com
