Late in the afternoon on Thursday, cameras at the Open Championship captured a lone golfer — an amateur hacker, presumably — out on the wide, flat beach beyond the clubhouse at Royal Liverpool. This hero was spending his twilight hammering balls off in the direction of the Irish Sea, heedless of the major championship happening behind him, swinging without a care in the world.
He was almost surely the only person holding a club within a mile of Royal Liverpool who wasn’t quaking in anticipation of challenging the club’s tiny greens, swirling winds, subterranean bunkers and diabolical out-of-bounds markers. Day 1 of the Open Championship indeed under largely clear skies, but the weather — as it always does — will get no better than it was Thursday.
That’s good news for three players in particular: Christo Lamprecht, the 6-foot-8 amateur who claimed the early lead at -5; Tommy Fleetwood, the still-majorless English star who matched him; and Emiliano Grillo, who carded five birdies in the final eight holes to join them. For the rest, the day was a cascade of hopeful moments and crushing disappointment, plus the knowledge that it’s only going to get tougher from here.
The shot of the day belonged to Sepp Straka, who figured out that the best way to clear the devilish pot bunkers all along the course was to simply tiptoe between them:
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Tommy Fleetwood carries home hopes as the English seek a first British Open winner since 1992Tommy Fleetwood has experience of seeing a wave of support carry a home favorite all the way to the claret jug.
Read more »
Tommy Fleetwood can make good on British Open dream close to home: ‘Pictured it a lot’Tommy Fleetwood isn’t afraid to go low in a major championship.
Read more »
Open Championship: Tommy Fleetwood tops odds board after opening round at Royal LiverpoolTommy Fleetwood entered Thursday's opening round at 22/1 to win the Open Championship. After a first-round 66, he's the current favorite at BetMGM.
Read more »
British Open Live Odds, Field 2023 — The Open Championship OddsLive betting odds for the 2023 British Open at Royal Liverpool, including pre-tournament favorites Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, and defending Open Championship winner Cam Smith.
Read more »
British Open betting roundtable: Favorites, sleepers, and where to bet $100Get some sleep, set the alarm and put on the coffee, it's time for the British Open ... and that means it's time for another golf roundtable, featuring Yahoo Sports senior writer Jay Busbee and Yahoo Sports fantasy impresario Scott Pianowski. Topics today: Which players to chase and which to fade, the impact of weather on the tournament, and whether the British Open is the best major of them all. Let's begin!
Read more »