The opening day of the 151st Open Championship proved challenging for some of the bookie’s favourites, with the leaderboard peppered with some less familiar names alongside those of local hero Tommy Fleetwood, who shares the early lead after an impressive first round 66.
Bidding to become the first Englishman to win the Open since Nick Faldo in 1992, Fleetwood was cheered on to every tee and every green as he began his search for his first major title in impressive fashion in a stiffening breeze at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
He shares the lead with South African amateur Christo Lamprecht, who showed his love of links golf in this part of the world when winning the Amateur Championship at nearby Hillside, and Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo, winner of the PGA Tour’s Charles Schwab Challenge in May, who birdied the last with a 50-foot putt to put his name at the top.
On a day which started with Royal Liverpool member Matthew Jordan getting the action underway, the course at Hoylake proved a challenge for many – particularly those who found themselves in the afternoon groups.
But South Africa’s Lamprecht, making his Open, showed no such struggles. With his imposing 6’ 8” frame, Lamprecht mastered the narrow fairways, swerved the devilish bunkers and produced one of the shots of the round to take the clubhouse lead. Fleetwood, who hails from Southport, started patiently before hitting his stride down the back nine with four birdies.
For Fleetwood, not traditionally a fast starter, it was pretty much the perfect opening round. He said: “For any tournament, you just want to get off to a fast start. It’s not really been my strength recently. I’ve started tournaments pretty slow, so to get something going today felt really good. As first rounds go, that’s absolutely the one you wanted, and to get off to a good start feels good. It’s such a special opportunity to play so close to home, to have that support and play an Open. I’m glad I gave them some good golf to watch.”
Elsewhere, there were some surprise names near the top of the leaderboard, France’s Antoine Rozner and Spain’s Adrian Otaegui both carding 67 to sit one behind the leaders. They were joined by Brian Harman later in the day, the American looking good again a year after finishing T6 at St Andrews.
Life was tougher for Rory McIlroy, fresh from victory at the Scottish Open, as he shot 71 in a round that was full of drama, including a missed two-foot putt on the eighth and a brilliant up and down from a greenside bunker at the last to stay at par. Reigning Champion Golfer Cameron Smith battled his way to one-over, while world number one Scottie Scheffler is in better shape at one-under.
Few people looked comfortable in testing conditions, but some of the pre-Championship favourites grappled and ground their way around to stay in contention. The 2017 Champion Golfer Jordan Spieth is another within striking distance, although a bogey on the 18th will have left a bitter taste after a fluent round. Spieth is one back from Wyndham Clark, the recent US Open champion while PGA winner Brooks Koepka overcame a slow start to finish one-under, level with world number one Scottie Scheffler.
Defending Champion Cameron Smith has more work to do however, his four birdies not quite enough to make up for five bogeys on his way to 72, while two-time PGA Champion Justin Thomas looks certain to be heading home tomorrow after shooting an 11-over-par 82, his worst ever round in a major.
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