The Open: Rory McIlroy battles Bryson DeChambeau in first round, Scotty Scheffler chases shock leader Jackson Suber | golf news

Bryson DeChambeau and defending champion Scottie Scheffler both made encouraging starts at the 154th Open, as Rory McIlroy’s major hopes suffered early setbacks.

Jackson Suber grabbed a shock major lead at Royal Birkdale on his Open debut and first visit to Europe, a birdie-eagle run late in his round saw him post a five-under 65.

After Dan Brown and his playing partner Sungjae Im set early targets earlier in the day carding opening round 66s, DeChambeau began his bid to avoid a fourth consecutive major miss cut with a three-under 67 to put one of 10 players two paces behind.

DeChambeau played alongside Scheffler, looking to become the first back-to-back winners since Padraig Harrington, world number one Genesis bounced back from last week’s missed cut to open with a two-under 68 at the Scottish Open.

Southport-born Tommy Fleetwood’s bid for a first English win since 1992 saw him struggle to a first-round 69, leaving him with Tyrell Hatton and Jon Rahm, as McIlroy opened his bid for a seventh major title with a disappointing two-over 72.

Slow major start for McIlroy

McIlroy rallied from an opening-round 71 to a tie-four finish at this venue in 2017 and will need another impressive comeback to climb back into contention, struggling on the greens and bogeying both par-fives in another erratic display.

The 37-year-old – playing alongside Xander Schauffele and Matt Fitzpatrick – bogeyed both par-threes on his front nine, including a three-putt bogey at the seventh, while the world No 2’s woes continued when he missed a four-foot birdie chance at the eighth.

The Masters champion responded by driving the green in two-putt for the par-four ninth and birdie, only to miss putts on the next two holes and start his second nine with back-to-back bogeys.

A 25-foot birdie on the 13th sparked hopes of a big finish for McIlroy, who later bogeyed the par-five and canceled out a birdie on the par-three 15th with the odd bogey on the par-five 17th.

McIlroy’s left miss returned to his approach from the dirty grass and his third knifed into a greenside bunker, a sensational shot – one foot – from the sand was not rewarded with a par, but a brilliant birdie put him seven behind Suber.

“Every time I make a stupid mistake, thankfully I make a birdie to put myself in it,” McIlroy admitted. “Not too far. Hopefully we’ll get better conditions tomorrow and maybe the greens will be a little smoother in the morning. Go out there and shoot a good shot and get yourself back to it for the weekend.”

DeChambeau impressed as Suba set the pace

Saber, world number 115, has never finished 73rd in a major and never won on the PGA Tour, but the American caught on after mixing six birdies and three bogeys with a brilliant eagle at the closing 17th.

“It was my fifth day in Europe, so I’m definitely learning the links course!” Suber said. “I settled in a little more on the back nine and felt more comfortable.”

Thomas Detrie was part of the opening group at 6.35am and was the first player to post a three-under 67, with Robert McIntyre, 2018 champion Francesco Molinari and Players champion Cameron Young deChambeau among others in the logjam.

DeChambeau has missed the cut at each of the last three majors Six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo questioned his links techniqueHowever, the two-time US Open champion threatened the lead until the final-hole bogey.

“I think I did a really good job today of being incredibly strategic and focusing really hard on putting it in the right spot,” DeChambeau said. “Other than 18, I put the ball in some good spots. I need to hit more fairways. Other than that, I think my technique was excellent today.”

Scheffler birdied four of his opening six holes but fell three behind after two bogeys in his remaining rounds, with 38 players under-par on a boisterous opening day in firm and fast conditions.

PGA Championship winner Aaron Rye is part of the one-over group and Matt Fitzpatrick McIlroy joins the back seven, while Justin Rose is in danger of missing the cut after a five-over 75.

When is the Open live on Sky Sports?

Wall-to-wall action continues from the year’s final men’s major on Friday at 6.30am on Sky Sports Golf, the exclusive home of The Open in the UK and Ireland, Sky Sports Golf.

Featured groups can be found on Sky Sports+ or The Sky Sports appWith a player focus feed, with extended coverage of The Open then starting at 9am on Saturday and 8am on Sunday on Sky Sports Golf.

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