The 154th Open Championship is underway at Royal Birkdale, featuring a mix of seasoned professionals and local talent. The tournament began with Matthew Baldwin, a Southport native and member of the century-old links, hitting the opening tee shot. His drive split the fairway, greeted by a cheering crowd in the grandstand.
James Nicholas, who was also in the first group, experienced a less ideal start, pulling his shot into thick grass, which led to an opening bogey. Nicholas is playing in his second consecutive major, having also been in the opening group at the U.S. Open last month. The conditions at Royal Birkdale are notably different from 2017, when Jordan Spieth won here; a heat wave has left the course brown and baked, causing the ball to run and bounce more.
Early performances and course conditions
Early starters have faced varied conditions, with the wind expected to pick up later in the morning, potentially inconveniencing later groups. Despite benign early conditions, only a few players were under par in the initial stages. Thomas Detry secured an early birdie on the par-three 7th hole, guiding his tee shot to eight feet and sinking the putt. He later recovered from a challenging 6th hole, described by Padraig Harrington as the toughest on the front nine, to return to level par.
Joe Dean, a 32-year-old from Sheffield, also recorded a birdie on the 4th hole. Dean, who has played in the Open twice before, including at Royal Birkdale in 2017, made the cut on both previous occasions. He is participating this week after winning a Last Chance Qualifier, which included an eagle on the new par-five 14th hole.
Bob MacIntyre made a fast start, sending his opening tee shot into the rough but recovering with a 45-foot putt for a birdie. He followed this with another birdie on the 2nd hole, placing his second shot from 172 yards to within a foot and a half of the hole. MacIntyre, last year’s U.S. Open runner-up, already has three top-ten finishes at the Open on his resume.
The course itself has undergone significant changes since its last hosting of the Open. A completely new 15th hole, a par 3 measuring 241 yards, has been introduced, alongside modifications to four other holes. These alterations, combined with the dry conditions, are expected to influence play.
Notable players and English hopes
Among the field are several prominent players, including defending champion Scottie Scheffler, who is aiming to become the first repeat winner of the British Open since Padraig Harrington in 2007-08. Scheffler, who missed the cut at the Scottish Open, is seeking his first victory since January. He is paired with Bryson DeChambeau, who has missed the cut in every major this year.
The tournament features 21 English players, with high hopes for an English champion, a feat not achieved since Tony Jacklin in 1969. Local hero Tommy Fleetwood, the FedEx Cup champion, grew up in Southport. Justin Rose, still a top-ten player at 45, made his mark at Royal Birkdale as a 17-year-old amateur in 1998, tying for fourth. Matt Fitzpatrick, ranked third in the world, has three victories this year.
Rory McIlroy, a back-to-back Masters champion, is also competing, having last won the British Open in 2014. Meanwhile, Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 champion, withdrew from the tournament, with his compatriot Aldrich Potgieter taking his place as the first alternate. Potgieter is scheduled to play later in the day.
The opening tee times included Matthew Baldwin, Thomas Detry, and James Nicholas at 6:35 am, followed by Michael Kim, Daniel Hillier, and Andy Sullivan at 6:46 am.
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Source: theguardian.com
