McIlroy’s putter turns Birkdale bomb show into Open grind

Rory McIlroy sent drives 352, 372 and 389 yards at Royal Birkdale, then watched three putts inside 5 feet slip away in a four-hole stretch.

That was the bite of Thursday’s opening round at the 2026 Open: power helped, patience helped, and the course allowed more than one route to the same number. CBS Sports reported that McIlroy signed for a 2-over 72, leaving the six-time major champion eight shots off the pace after Round 1.

McIlroy was not alone among big names with work to do. CBS Sports had Matt Fitzpatrick at 2 over and Xander Schauffele at 1 over after the opening round, while Jackson Suber finished the day as the leader.

Birkdale rewards different answers

The leaderboard made the point quickly. Bryson DeChambeau led the field in driving distance and shot 3-under 67. Francesco Molinari ranked 150th in that category and posted the same score, according to CBS Sports.

Tyrrell Hatton was second behind DeChambeau in driving distance and shot 68. Collin Morikawa was one place behind Molinari in driving distance and also carded 68, the report said.

McIlroy took the bolder road off the tee. On the par-4 ninth, CBS Sports reported, he drove the green, while Schauffele and Fitzpatrick played shorter. McIlroy and Schauffele made birdie, Fitzpatrick made par. Later, Schauffele used iron off the tee, Fitzpatrick hit fairway wood and McIlroy again chose driver.

“I drove the ball incredibly well,” McIlroy said, according to CBS Sports. “I took the golf course on off the tee.” He added that, given his tee-shot positions, he felt he should have scored better.

Short putts spoil McIlroy’s round

McIlroy’s trouble came on the greens. CBS Sports reported that he ranked 146th in putting for the day and missed putts from 3 feet, 11 inches at No. 7, 3 feet, 8 inches at No. 8 and 4 feet, 1 inch at No. 10.

McIlroy said some early putts appeared to break one way before moving another, making trust difficult over the next chances. He told reporters he kept leaving himself four-footers and had to stay committed to his reads.

Scottie Scheffler showed another path. CBS Sports reported that the world No. 1 shot 68, missed only one fairway and led the field in driving accuracy. DeChambeau, Scheffler and Hatton played together, and Scheffler said the group used three different approaches.

DeChambeau answers with a 67

DeChambeau arrived after three straight missed cuts in majors, with Nick Faldo among those saying he needed more strategy for links golf, according to CBS Sports. His 67 offered a quick reply on the scorecard.

“I think you’ve got to be a lot more strategic out on the golf course,” DeChambeau said, according to CBS Sports. He said he was focused on placing the ball in the right areas, though he wanted to hit more fairways.

Robert MacIntyre also shot 67 while ranking outside the top 125 in driving distance, CBS Sports reported. MacIntyre said his priority was keeping the ball on the fairway and away from pot bunkers.

Debutants and veterans crash the party

Suber’s lead came in his Open debut, CBS Sports reported, and Ryan Gerard was the highest-ranked debutant in the field at world No. 28. Alex Smalley and Pierceson Coody were also among first-timers making early noise.

Dan Brown opened with 66, one shot off the lead and best among English players, according to CBS Sports. Brown also told reporters he averages seven or eight cigarettes per round and has been careful with cigarette butts because of the dry conditions at Royal Birkdale.

Former Open champions Molinari and Henrik Stenson also started well, with Molinari at 67 and Stenson at 68. Justin Rose opened with 75, while Padraig Harrington shot 80.

The draw had a slight split. CBS Sports reported that the morning wave averaged 71.00, exactly one over par, while afternoon scoring was about 0.70 strokes harder. The afternoon starters get the earlier window Friday, with fresher greens waiting.

This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.