The 153rd Open Championship teed off at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, and Round 1 delivered exactly the kind of drama and elite shot-making golf fans were hoping for. With cool conditions and swirling winds challenging the world’s best, it was Harris English who rose above the rest, firing an impressive 5-under 66 to take the solo lead after the first 18 holes. English started strong with a front-nine 33 and closed out his round with crucial birdies to separate himself from a crowded leaderboard.
Close behind at 4-under are Jacob Skov Olesen, Haotong Li, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Christiaan Bezuidenhout—all posting rounds of 67 with confident iron play and consistent putting. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finished his round at 3-under, showing his usual composure down the stretch, while veterans Lee Westwood and Rickie Fowler both recorded solid 2-under rounds to keep themselves firmly in the mix heading into Friday.
A handful of experienced names finished at 1-under, including Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry, and Sergio Garcia, all of whom showed flashes of brilliance but couldn’t quite go on a birdie run. Defending champion Xander Schauffele stayed steady with an even-par 71, navigating some of the course’s tougher pin positions with calm precision.
Among the featured groups, Rory McIlroy had a rollercoaster of a round. Paired with Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood, McIlroy was at 2-under before back-nine bogeys brought him back to even par. Shane Lowry, who famously won The Open at Portrush in 2019, was grouped with Scheffler and Collin Morikawa, and managed a solid 1-under round. Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau, playing alongside Robert MacIntyre and Justin Rose, struggled heavily and finished at 5-over par.
Other marquee names like Morikawa, Brooks Koepka, and Patrick Reed also found themselves battling difficult stretches throughout the round, each finishing well over par and with work to do to make the cut. As always, The Open proves that links golf is as much about patience and strategy as it is about power and precision.
This video features highlights from all the biggest names and best shots from Thursday’s opening round, including English’s birdie streak, Fitzpatrick’s strong finish, and standout moments from stars like Scheffler, Li, and Bezuidenhout. Watch now to relive the action and get ready for what’s shaping up to be a thrilling weekend at Royal Portrush. Drop a comment with your pick for the Claret Jug and don’t forget to like and subscribe for full Open Championship coverage all weekend long.
Good morning everyone and welcome to Royal Pool Rush for the first day’s play of the 153rd Open. This is game number one. Or maybe not. Wow. How about you kidding me? [Music] [Applause] Well, he didn’t mean to take it on, but he did anyway. Fitzpatrick from the right hand side of this 16th green. He’s hold it. Matt Fitzpatrick on 16 doesn’t just avoid calamity. He produces a moment of genius. He pitches it directly into the hole. He can’t quite believe it. Fitzpatrick has birdied 16. Just a little bit of wind from behind just helped to ease down the green. There’s an echo as well. What a shot from Sheffler. So Scottish Sheffer three under, one to play. Pretty good. I mean, it was uh it was challenging to get the ball in the fairway off the tea, especially in the middle of a round, you know, when it’s raining sideways basically. So, that’s uh definitely a challenging aspect. And there’s a few holes here where um like number 10’s a good example where I hit a good drive good drive. It just happens to go right through the fairway. But overall, I uh felt like I I struck the ball pretty nicely today. Scottish am. [Applause] What a moment that would have been. I don’t know how it played out. Champion Daniel Brown from two weeks ago in Munich. An emotional victory after losing one of his friends in the leadup. No. Oh my goodness. For a park and somebody make a par at 11. Well, if it keeps going, you little beauty. Incredible streak. Wow. Look at this to Shambo with a baseball swing. Third at the fourth. Don’t think he hit it. Oh man. And you know that club being so upright a chef that makes that shot even way more difficult. [Applause] Hello. Hello. [Applause] Oh, bit of a bonus birdie there for Rory Maroy. Now Hlin for an eagle on the par five second hole. [Applause] Music to the ears. Will this be for the crowds? It will for Shane Lowry right in the heart of it there at the sixth hole. Olison has a chance to get to four under now. to take advantage of the par fives. Only three of them and does he ever four under now is the lead. Now Olison still sitting alone at top the leaderboard. Had to pitch it over some slope then up that second slope. Oh my god, how about that pitch shot? And Jacob all of a sudden is at five under par with a two- shot lead. [Applause] And the longer grass here, Darren Clark at 17. I’m sure Big Darren had plenty of support out there this morning. What a shot. Get in. Oh yeah. That’s uh that shear will reverberate beautifully around the links. Sun shining brightly in the par five. Come on, get in there. And Lucas Glover for an eagle. Some shot to get it this close. It’s a double breaker. There we go. What a start. Once find the left rough really whistling right time not impressed with somebody behind him finds the right rough very smart whoever it was that little trundle up bit of spin and a bit of in me down for a Hey, time to be decisive, be firm. Yes, beautifully done. Huge roar wings out across the golf course as Melan makes another birdie. But the attempt for English rolls it right in. So he moves back to for under park. Normally very good at these bump and runs just like that [Applause] sir. Beautiful touch from Michael Roy as we watch Tom Kim with a long par at the eight. It’s traveling though. Oh that is just a stealing one there. It’s going to go have to go digging. did look to shoot a bit left. A little bit of help. No, more than a bit of help.
1 Comment
These are PGA tour grade highlights
Not befitting the Open. We want to see struggle. We didn't see enough.