England’s Matt Fitzpatrick joined Denmark’s Jacob Skov Olesen and China’s Haotong Li with 4-under-par 67s to become early leaders during the first round of the Open Championship on Thursday at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and England’s Matthew Jordan both carded a 68 to finish a stroke back, while Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard and England’s Lee Westwood shot 69s to hold the next spots among golfers who completed the round.
Scheffler made birdie on two of the final three holes.
Many competitors, including Masters champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, were scheduled for afternoon starts local time, so they hadn’t teed off by the time the initial waves of golfers completed rounds.
Phil Mickelson, the tournament’s 2013 champion, led at 2-under at the round’s midway mark before finishing with a 70. He provided an early thrill by holing a shot from the bunker for a par on the third hole.
Fitzpatrick pulled even with the leaders with a chip-in on the par-3 16th hole. His attempt from well below the hole hit the pin and dropped in. Earlier, he posted eagle on the par-5 second hole.
Olesen, making his third appearance in a tour event, used an eagle on the par-5 12th hole to move into the lead. His second bogey of the round on the final hole cost him the mid-day solo lead.
Li had a bogey-free round with a pair of birdies on each side.
Chris Gotterup, coming off his victory last Sunday in the Genesis Scottish Open, shot 72. He went 2-under through 12 holes before three consecutive bogeys on Nos. 13-15.
–Field Level Media
