The Open has begun as Royal Troon hosts the 152nd edition of the iconic championship on one of Scotland’s toughest courses.
Englishman Daniel Brown, 29, was the star of the day with a score of six under par, followed by former winner Shane Lowry, who was just one stroke behind him.
Meanwhile, it was a nightmare for Rory McIlroy, who is in danger of missing the cut after a gruelling round saw him seven over par and virtually eliminated.
It was a similarly difficult day for Tiger Woods, but the legendary American smiled through the pain as thousands of people gathered to get close to the star.
Mail Sport’s JAMES SHARPE discusses what you may have missed from The Open in Talk of the Troon.
The Open has kicked off as Royal Troon hosts the 152nd edition of the iconic championship
Southgate finally rises above De La Fuente
The fortunes of De la Fuentes and Southgate have been mixed in recent days. Spanish manager Luis conquered Europe when his team beat England in Sunday’s final, but namesake Santiago, the Mexican amateur, took a triple-bogey eight at the fifth in a horror round of 78 at Royal Troon.
Matthew Southgate, meanwhile, played OK for his two-over run, but not well enough to reach the top. Sounds about right.
Matthew Southgate meanwhile played OK for his two-over round, but not well enough to reach the top
Santiago De La Fuente took a triple-bogey eight at the fifth in a horror round of 78 at Royal Troon
Iconic Scottish course for sale
Looking for a home on a golf course? You’re in luck. One of the two iconic Blackrock House cottages, wedged between the second and sixteenth holes at Royal Troon, is for sale.
“One of the best homes in golf,” say the agents. And well done, because it’s on the market for £1.5 million — and that’s before you factor in repairs to broken windows.
Tech Billionaire’s Son Impresses Everyone
Never mind Tom Cruise, there’s another Maverick flying high at Royal Troon. Maverick McNealy, the 28-year-old American son of a tech billionaire, went home with two under par before finishing on even par.
Coincidentally, Maverick isn’t named after the Top Gun character, but after a model of Ford car — just like his brothers Dakota, Colt and Scout. McNealy’s grandfather, Raymond William McNealy Jnr, was vice chairman of American Motors. Maverick, however, is a trained pilot. No, seriously.
Maverick McNealy, the 28-year-old American son of a tech billionaire, went home with two under par before finishing on even par
Leading amateur shines on familiar ground
Callum Scott finished the day as the top amateur after a superb par round of 70. The 20-year-old hails from Nairn, a small town in the Scottish Highlands 200 miles north of Troon, but plies his trade at university in Lubbock, Texas — home of Buddy Holly. A Scottish amateur who out-hits Rory McIlroy by seven strokes? That’s going to be the day!
A hole to forget!
Consider Dan Bradbury, whose quintuple-bogey on the par-four ninth was the worst hole of the day. He hit his second shot into the bushes to the right of the green, took a drop, threw his next shot back into the same bushes, dropped again, threw it over the green, chipped to three feet, missed the short putt and tapped in for a nine. Ouch.
Consider Dan Bradbury, whose quintuple bogey on the par-four ninth hole was the worst hole of the day
Special moment for New Zealand star
It was an emotional day for Michael Hendry. The New Zealander withdrew from last year’s Open after contracting leukaemia. He lost two stone in weight and was barely strong enough to walk up the stairs.
Michael Hendry withdrew from the Open last year after contracting leukemia, but returned to competition this year
The R&A allowed him to come back and play this year. ‘It was extremely special,’ Hendry said after his round of 74. ‘It’s the one thing that’s gotten me through my recovery.’