Spieth, Koepka, Kuchar, take early lead at Open

World no 3 Spieth shoots a flawless fiveunder 65 to share clubhouse lead with fellow americans

SOUTHPORT: Jordan Spieth produced one of his best Major championship efforts and Brooks Koepka underlined his credentials as the American duo shot first-round 65s to share the British Open clubhouse lead on fiveunder par.

Spieth, the world No 3, avoided the grim early morning weather at Royal Birkdale on Thursday as he went out with reigning champion Henrik Stenson and promptly fired a flawless round featuring five birdies and not a single dropped shot.

“I couldn’t have done much better,” admitted the Texan, even if he agonisingly failed to convert a putt for birdie at 18.

“Everything was strong. I thought I’d give it a nine across the board for everything --- tee balls, ball-striking, short game and putting. So things are in check. It’s just about keeping it consistent.”

Winner of the Masters and US Open in 2015, Spieth failed to break par in his last five opening rounds at a Major before coming to the north-west English coast.

He is now hoping to have set himself up to survive what are expected to be gruelling wet and windy conditions on Friday, although plenty other leading players will be thinking likewise.

Koepka, fresh from a month off after winning his first major at the recent US Open, was one-under at the turn before a rollercoaster ride on the way home.

That saw the 27-year-old birdie three holes in a row from the 11th, bogey 16 and then eagle the parfive 17th in sensational fashion as he holed out from a bunker.

“I played really solid. unfortunately a bogey on 16, just a bad putt,” Koepka said.

Royal Birkdale again brought the best out in Ian Poulter as the Englishman fired a three-underpar 67.

It was a fine return to the big stage for Poulter, who had not appeared at a Major since the Masters last year and had to settle for a role as a television commentator at the Open 12 months ago while sidelined through injury. He came through qualifying at his home course Woburn to make it to Birkdale, where he finished runner-up to Padraig Harrington in 2008 in what remains his best performance at a Major. It might seem strange to say that I created a lot of chances and yet came back with a three-over 73, which leaves me a lot of work to do on Friday afternoon.

A real rough patch at the start of my back nine – four bogeys in a row – is not easy to handle, but I am glad I was able to fight back somewhat with a birdie and 25-foot eagle on the 17th.

Even before I could realise, I got hit by a bogey on the last hole and that was disappointing. All the more as I was in a good position.

It was not the best of starts and a mixed bag of sorts. One does not know how the weather will be when I go out for my second round, but all I know is I need to put my head down and repair the damage.

My friend Shiv Kapur had a similar scoring day, but unlike my stretch of bogeys, he was pulled down by a big number – a triple on the seventh.

As for my round, I was not in rhythm. I could not find the fairways and greens and when that is the situation, one always struggles to put up a score. LACKED TOUCH

Frankly, I should not have dropped more than two shots at best. Instead, I dropped six as my putter let me down badly. I did not have touch on the greens.

I left myself in good positions to get up-and-down quite often but I was not sharp enough. I must have missed at least six putts from inside six feet. That is just too much for any event, let alone a Major. But I am happy the way I fought back after that stretch of bogeys; I knew I had to focus more.

That is easier said than done but I’m happy I got a birdie and eagle to repair some damage.

The conditions were not easy, with a crosswind that made things difficult. It was also quite cold and wet, but then that is something to be expected at The Open.

I believe the wind was between 10-16 miles an hour and when it is crosswind it can be tough.