English golfers lead home charge at Open as McIlroy trails
9 reported
The 154th Open Championship first round at Royal Birkdale saw American Jackson Suber take the lead at five under par, one shot ahead of England's Dan Brown and South Korea's Im Sung-jae. Eight English players finished under par, boosting hopes for a first English Open winner in 34 years, though Masters champion Rory McIlroy ended the day seven shots off the lead after a two-over round of 72. Brown, a 31-year-old from Yorkshire, shot a four-under 66 early on day one, taking advantage of scoreable conditions. Local hero Tommy Fleetwood, who hails from nearby Southport, shot a one-under 69 after struggling in the 2017 Open at Birkdale with an opening round of six over. McIlroy, who played alongside Matt Fitzpatrick, struggled on the greens and finished 148th in putting strokes gained statistics, but birdied the 18th and expressed confidence he could turn things around. The article notes that no golfer wins the Open after 18 holes, but they can put themselves out of contention.
What’s reported
Jackson Suber leads the 154th Open Championship first round at five under par.
Dan Brown (England) and Im Sung-jae (South Korea) are one shot back at four under.
Eight English players are under par after the first round.
Rory McIlroy shot a two-over 72 with six bogeys and four birdies.
Sir Nick Faldo was the last English winner of The Open, in 1992 at Muirfield.
The last English winner on English soil was Tony Jacklin in 1969 at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
Tommy Fleetwood shot a one-under 69 after opening with six over in 2017 at Birkdale.
McIlroy finished 148th in putting strokes gained, with only eight players worse.
Each of the past 26 Open champions have been within five shots of the lead after round one.
Key figures
Jackson Suber (American golfer, first-round leader)
Dan Brown (English golfer, one shot off lead)
Im Sung-jae (South Korean golfer, one shot off lead)
Rory McIlroy (Masters champion, Northern Irish golfer)
Tommy Fleetwood (English golfer from Southport)
Matt Fitzpatrick (English golfer, pre-Open favourite)
Sir Nick Faldo (last English Open winner, 1992)
Tony Jacklin (last English Open winner on English soil, 1969)
Robert MacIntyre (Scottish golfer)
Bryson DeChambeau (two-time major winner)
Francesco Molinari (Italian golfer, 2018 Open winner)
Sources: BBC News
