By Daniel Brown holds a one-shot lead over Shane Lowry after the first round of The 152nd Open at Royal Troon. Brown finished with a six-under 65, while Lowry, who won The Open in 2019, carded a five-under 66, marking his lowest round in a major. Justin Thomas is three strokes back in third place.
The windy conditions on the Scottish coast proved challenging for many players. Bryson DeChambeau struggled with a five-over 76, Rory McIlroy had a tough day with a seven-over 78, and Tiger Woods finished with an eight-over 79, putting them all at risk of missing the cut.
Lowry’s round included a series of impressive pars and birdies, while Brown surged ahead with birdies on two of his last four holes. Other notable performances included Xander Schauffele and Justin Rose, who are among the group tied for fourth at two under.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler started with a one-under 70, placing him in a tie for 11th. Meanwhile, McIlroy and Woods will need strong performances in the second round to avoid missing the cut. McIlroy, who double-bogeyed the Postage Stamp, is focused on making the cut rather than contending for the Claret Jug. Woods, facing a quick turnaround, acknowledged he needs a mid-60s round to stay in the tournament.
