Jackson Suber grabs Open lead in first links test at Royal Birkdale
Jackson Suber shot a 5-under 65 to lead the British Open by one after a surprise-filled first round at Royal Birkdale.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Jackson Suber arrived at Royal Birkdale with no links-golf history and no wins since leaving Ole Miss. Three days later, the 26-year-old American was on top of the British Open leaderboard.
Suber opened with a 5-under 65 on Thursday in Southport, England, according to the Associated Press, taking a one-shot lead after a long first round played in warm, breezy conditions.
The round was only Suber’s seventh in a major championship and his first at the British Open. AP reported that he closed his day with the kind of late burst that turns a quiet card into a clubhouse lead: a difficult par save at the new par-3 15th, a 6-foot birdie putt at No. 16 and an eagle at the 17th after hitting a choked-down 4-iron from 233 yards to 6 feet.
“Just kind of kept the ball in good spots and didn't put much pressure on my game to make pars,” Suber said, according to AP.
Sungjae Im and England’s Daniel Brown were one stroke back at 4 under. A crowded group at 3 under included Bryson DeChambeau, Robert MacIntyre, Thomas Detry, Francesco Molinari, Alex Smalley, Ryan Gerard, M.J. Daffue, Pierceson Coody and Cameron Young, according to the leaderboard.
The opening day ran about 15 hours and came with plenty of surprises. AP reported that five of the top 12 players were making their British Open debuts, including Suber and four players in the 3-under pack: Smalley, Gerard, Daffue and Coody.
DeChambeau made his own noise with a 67, leaning on an aggressive plan off the tee. AP reported that he hit only four fairways but missed just three greens, often blasting driver over trouble and leaving himself manageable positions even when he strayed from the short grass.
He birdied the par-4 second and par-4 10th after sending tee shots over hazards and near the green, according to AP. Jon Rahm was among players who said that going long can create problems, but DeChambeau’s two dropped shots came from putting on the par-5 14th and chipping on the par-4 18th.
DeChambeau had shared the early lead before a closing bogey. AP reported that he chipped to 8 feet at the last and missed the putt. He also missed three birdie looks from about 10 feet or closer, including one at the redesigned 321-yard fifth after driving just over the green.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler got moving early with four birdies in his first six holes, then cooled off and finished at 2-under 68, according to AP. Rory McIlroy had a rougher start, missing three 4-foot putts during a four-hole stretch and making six bogeys in a 72.
Smalley briefly looked ready to set the mark. AP reported that he led by two shots before his tee shot at the 18th bounced right, went out of bounds and led to a double bogey.
“Got up to where the ball was supposed to be and was told it hit a spectator fence and kicked another 15 yards right out of bounds,” Smalley said, according to AP. “Poor tee shot, poor break. Sometimes that's how it goes.”
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.