First round at Royal Birkdale
Southport, England. Jackson Suber, 26, is playing his third major and his first tournament on a links course. He played his first round in Europe three days ago, but he learned quickly: he shot 65 strokes (5 under par) to lead the British Open.
His round included a demanding par on the 15th hole, a six-foot birdie on the 16th and an eagle from 233 yards, with a 4-iron that left the ball six feet from the hole. It is his seventh round in any major.
“I just kept the ball in good spots and didn’t put a lot of pressure on myself,” Suber stated.
He leads by one stroke over Sungjae Im and Dan Brown. Nine players shot 67, including four Open debutants: Alex Smalley, Ryan Gerard, M.J. Daffue and Pierceson Coody.
Bryson DeChambeau, who missed the cut in the previous three majors, opted not to speak to the media since the Masters. He signed 67 despite hitting only four fairways. He missed just three greens and avoided major problems. He is two shots behind the leader.
Cameron Young, Robert MacIntyre, Thomas Detry and Francesco Molinari — the 2018 champion — also posted 67s.
Rory McIlroy missed three four-foot putts in a four-hole span and made six bogeys for a 72. Scottie Scheffler started with four birdies in six holes, but did not score more in the last twelve. He signed 68, without major complaint.
