Suber leads a day of surprises in his first Open Championship
Suber takes early lead at Royal Birkdale
Jackson Suber secured the early lead at the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, carding a round of 65. His performance marked a notable start to the tournament, which also featured several unexpected outcomes on the first day of play.
Among the other surprising results, Francesco Molinari, who has experienced a significant decline in his golf career since the 2019 Masters, found himself in a strong position, two shots off the lead. His play on a course noted for having similarities to Carnoustie, where he previously excelled, drew attention.
Another unexpected name on the leaderboard was Henrik Stenson. Despite being ranked 1,600th in the world and not having an OWGR-recorded start since the previous year’s Open, Stenson delivered an impressive performance on Day 1, placing him among the front-runners.
McIlroy’s challenging start
Rory McIlroy, a six-time major winner and the 2014 Open champion, faced a challenging opening round, finishing seven shots behind the leader. He described his performance as being marred by “too many stupid mistakes.” McIlroy’s round of 72 included four birdies and six bogeys.
McIlroy, who is hoping to add a second Claret Jug to his second Masters title from April, encountered difficulties on Royal Birkdale’s greens. He missed three four-foot putts within a span of four holes, starting from the seventh. Towards the end of his round, he managed to combine three birdies with two bogey sixes over his final six holes.
The golfer expressed frustration with the inconsistency of the greens, noting that some parts were still alive and growing while others were “really dead.” He also highlighted issues with the speed of the greens on the first two holes. Despite these challenges, McIlroy felt he drove the ball effectively, including driving the green on the 415-yard ninth hole.
McIlroy, who previously finished joint fourth at the 2017 Open at Birkdale, acknowledged his errors but found some positives. He noted that every time he made a mistake, he managed to follow it with a birdie, which helped him stay in contention. He believes he is not far from a better performance and hopes for more favourable conditions on the second day, particularly smoother greens in the morning.
Historically, each of the past 26 Open champions has been within five shots of the lead after the first round. However, McIlroy, who overcame a seven-shot deficit in the first round to win the 2025 Masters, remains optimistic about his chances. He anticipates that the scoring conditions will flip, with the morning conditions on the second day potentially being more benign, allowing him to shoot under par and improve his standing.
Other notable performances and surprises
Beyond the leaders, several other players provided unexpected moments on Day 1. Bryson DeChambeau, who had missed three consecutive cuts in majors earlier in the year, surprised many with an opening round of 67. Despite two bogeys on the back nine, his score placed him only two shots behind the first-round leader.
David Howard, who shot a 74, shared that his participation in the tournament was a surprise in itself. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of seven, Howard expressed his astonishment at being healthy enough to compete with top players, stating that he had not expected to live to his current age. He received significant applause on the first hole, which he described as feeling like a major win.
The tournament also saw Lev Grinberg, an 18-year-old amateur, make history as the first Ukrainian-born player to participate in a major championship. Grinberg, who practices at the French Golf Federation at Le Golf National and plans to play college golf, appeared composed despite the significant occasion. He shot one over par, a score that surpassed those of McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, and Justin Rose. Grinberg expressed confidence in his future in major championships, stating his intention to return to many more if his health permits, and looked forward to learning from the experience on the second day.
Source: ca.sports.yahoo.com
