The Open Championship Day 1: Who Shone, Who Stumbled, and Who Just Showed Up

You don’t win the whole damn thing on Thursday. But you can sure as hell paint yourself into this column. Royal Birkdale threw everything at the field on Day 1 of The Open, and let me tell you, some guys looked like they belonged, and others… well, they looked like they forgot to pack their good golf clubs. This is where we break down who made a statement and who’s already staring down the barrel of a long weekend.

The Local Hero’s Moment

You gotta feel for Matthew Baldwin . Hailing from Southport, a member at Royal Birkdale for over two decades, and gets to hit the opening tee shot. How’s that for pressure? He carded a respectable two-over 72. But that moment? That’s the stuff of legends. He said it himself: “It was an incredible feeling. It was terrifying. It was overwhelming. But it’s something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.” Yeah, mate. That’s a memory you can’t buy. He might not be in contention for the Claret Jug, but he absolutely won a spot in the history books for that first swing.

The Favorites Who Didn’t Quite Deliver

Alright, let’s talk about the guys everyone had circled. Matthew Fitzpatrick , the World No. 3, the guy everyone was picking to win it all. And what does he do? A solid, but utterly forgettable, two-over 72. Blah. No fireworks, no statement. Just… there. You expect more from a guy in that kind of form. It’s not a disaster, but it’s not exactly the opening salvo we were anticipating.

Then there’s Joaquin Niemann . This guy’s got talent, no doubt. But his major record has been… let’s just say a work in progress. After missing the Masters, you figured he’d be fired up. He had good showings at the PGA and U.S. Open, so the signs were there. But Day 1 at Birkdale? Yikes. A 76. Twelve pars, six bogeys, zero birdies. For one of the guys tipped to do well, that’s a pretty pathetic start. He’s shown he can make a charge before, like at Shinnecock, so maybe he’s not completely out of it. But he’s given himself a mountain to climb. This is the kind of round that makes you wonder if that major window is starting to slam shut.

And what about the big names who’ve already got a major or two under their belt? Rory McIlroy , Aaron Rai , and Wyndham Clark . All major champions in 2026. All sitting over par after the first round. McIlroy shot a 72, Rai a 71, and Clark a 73. Not terrible, but not what you want when you’re aiming for the top. They’ve got work to do, plain and simple. No excuses.

The Surprising Stars of Day 1

Now for the guys who turned heads. First up, the man of the hour: Jackson Suber . Never played links golf over here before. Never even been here. And what does he do? Shoots a five-under 65 and ends up as the first-round leader. Bloody hell. And to top it off, he navigated his first press conference without making any headlines for the wrong reasons. So far, so good for young Suber. This is the kind of story you love to see in golf. Pure grit and talent on display.

Then you have Dan Brown . Not exactly a household name, but he certainly made one today. While Birkdale’s fairways were baked out and playing beautifully firm and fast – exactly what you want from links golf – Brown’s biggest concern on Thursday was, apparently, extinguishing his cigarettes. Seriously? But hey, whatever works. His golf game was on fire. He birdied seven of his last 11 holes en route to a four-under 66. That’s how you make a statement. Forget the pre-round routine; just get it done.

And let’s not forget Matthew Southgate . He’s roped in Billy Foster, Matt Fitzpatrick’s former caddie, for the week. Smart move. And it paid off. He managed three late birdies to post an opening 69. That’s a solid start and puts him right in the mix. Sometimes, a change of scenery, or rather, a change of bagman, is all you need.

Bryson DeChambeau: More Than Just Power?

There was some noise earlier in the week about Bryson DeChambeau and his supposed lack of strategy for links golf. Honestly, I find it amusing when former major champs get on their high horse about current players, facts be damned. But in this case, maybe the critique was a bit out of date. DeChambeau has shown he can play this game. He managed St. Andrews well for a T8 back in 2022. He bounced back at Royal Portrush last year after a rough opening round to finish T10. And let’s not forget his win at Pinehurst, which showed a blend of power and finesse.

Look, I’m not saying he’s the most well-rounded player on the planet, or that his game management is flawless. But you dismiss him at your own peril. His opening three-under 67 was clinical. He found a way to score, and that’s what matters. This wasn’t just brute force; it was smart golf. He’s definitely one to watch.

The Home Favorite’s Fight

The biggest storyline entering the week was undoubtedly Tommy Fleetwood . His homecoming, coupled with his stellar form and the “best player without a major” tag, put him under the kind of pressure cooker that only The Open can provide. Everyone in the golf world was rooting for him. And for a while there, it wasn’t looking great. He bogeyed holes 10 and 12, slipping over par. But then he dug deep. Birdies on 15 and 17 brought him back. He finished at one-under par. That’s exactly where he needs to be. It wasn’t a flawless round, but it was a gritty, resilient performance. He’s in the hunt, and that’s all that matters.

The Veterans Facing an Uphill Battle

It’s tough watching legends battle injuries. Justin Rose , returning to Birkdale where he made his name nearly three decades ago, started nicely with a birdie on the first. But that was about as good as it got. Battling a neck injury, he scattered six bogeys and a double bogey. A five-over 75. It’s going to be a massive uphill climb for him to even make the cut. You hate to see it, but that’s the reality of professional golf.

The Brutal Finish at No. 18

The closing stretch at Royal Birkdale proved to be a real test. Take Alex Smalley . He was sitting pretty at five-under, solo lead, heading to the 18th tee. Then he hit two off the tee and walked away with a double bogey. Ouch. And Xander Schauffele ? He was at one-under, right in the mix, and found a fairway bunker despite hitting an iron off the tee. Double bogey there too. Over par for the round. They weren’t the only ones. That 18th hole played about a third of a shot over par on Thursday, making it one of the toughest on the course. It’s a gnarly par-4, and it’s going to make for some serious drama on Sunday. If you’re in contention on that hole, you’re going to feel the heat.

The Strong Starters

On the flip side, a bunch of the pre-tournament favorites put themselves in prime positions with solid rounds in the 60s. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler fired a 68. Scotland’s own Robert MacIntyre matched that with a 67. Cameron Young , the Players champ, also shot 67. Even Collin Morikawa , the 2021 Open Champ, is in there with a 68. And you can’t forget the ever-dangerous Jon Rahm (69) and the mercurial Tyrrell Hatton (69). Si Woo Kim , who’s been on fire, is also at 68. And of course, Tommy Fleetwood is right there at 69. These guys know how to win, and they’ve given themselves a great platform to build on. Lot of golf left to play, as they say. Let’s see who can keep it going.

This is just Day 1, folks. The Open Championship is a marathon, not a sprint. We’ve seen some incredible performances and some gut-wrenching misses. The leaderboard is packed, the conditions are tough, and the drama is just getting started. Make sure you stay tuned to see how it all unfolds. For more on the latest in golf, you can always check out resources like TheOpen.com for official updates and scores.