Daniel Brown, who qualified for The Open through a closing 20-foot putt in the 36-hole Final Qualifying event at West Lancashire finished top on day one at six-under par. A decent return for your first-ever Open Championship.
A first-time winner on the DP World Tour last season, the 29-year-old is a member of Bedale Golf Club in North Yorkshire and did not drop a single shot today at Royal Troon, finishing on 65.
The 2019 golfer of the year, Shane Lowry also produced a faultless display finishing on a five-under-par, 66.
Embed from Getty ImagesJustin Thomas, who carded the most birdies out on the course today completes the top three at three-under-par.
On the other hand, most notably, Rory McIlroy finished on seven-over-par, currently tied 129th and in danger of missing tomorrow’s cut. The Northern Irishmen carded two double bogeys on his card, including one on the par three Postage Stamp. McIlroy said:
“The course was playing tough. The conditions are very difficult in a wind that we haven’t seen so far this week.
“Just one of those days where I just didn’t adapt well enough to the conditions.”
McIlroy is not the only big name who may miss this year’s cut. US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau finished on five over par, 76, which still included an eagle on the par five 16th. Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood will also be looking over his shoulder finishing five over par also.
Tiger Woods is also one who has it all to do with an eight over par, 79. Despite a big following and huge applause walking down the 18th, time is certainly catching up with the 15-time major championship winner to compete at the top of the leaderboard. 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith finished round one on a nine over par, 80.
Despite this, the day certainly belongs to Englishmen, Daniel Brown who is ranked 272 in the world.
You can check the full leaderboard below with all eyes being on those teeing off tomorrow afternoon with several high-profile players with it all to do to make the cut.
https://www.theopen.com/leaderboard
Cover photo: The 152nd Open – Day One
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 18: Daniel Brown of England tees off on the first hole on day one of The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 18, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Tom Shaw/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
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