KISNER LEADS AS SPIETH STUMBLES
American Kevin Kisner birdied three successive holes on the inward nine to card a five-under-par first round of 66 and take the clubhouse lead at the British Open on Thursday.
The 34-year-old — a two-time winner on the PGA Tour — had got his opening round on track after a bogey on the fifth with an eagle on the historic sixth, a hole known as ‘Hogan’s Alley’.
Kisner leads by a shot from a trio of players, South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen, who went out in the second group, his compatriot Zander Lombard and American Tony Finau.
The favourites enjoyed mixed fortunes. Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy came in with a 69, while Tiger Woods’ return to The Open after a two-year hiatus saw him sit at twounder after 11 holes.
Meanwhile, reigning Open champion Jordan Spieth dropped four shots in the final three holes — including a double-bogey at the 15th which he put down to terrible decision-making — to card a 72.
Spieth is certainly better-placed than world number one Dustin Johnson,
who may struggle to make the cut after posting a 76.
The 31-year-old American’s round ended with a catatastrophic triplebogey at the 18th, the hole where Frenchman Jean Van de Velde’s title hopes came to grief in 1999.
Kisner went out in one of the first groups just before 8am (0700 GMT, 11am UAE) and had an eagle and four birdies in his five-under-par
round of 66 on a perfect summer’s morning on Scotland’s east coast.
“The golf course is great for me. The conditions have been fine,” said the 34-year-old, who led going into the final round of last year’s US PGA Championship before dropping away to finish tied for seventh.
“Going forward, you never know what you’re going to have in Scotland. I know the rain is coming in tomorrow (Friday). I don’t think the rain is going to affect how the golf course is playing in one day, but I have to just keep doing what I’m doing.”
Americans have won the last five majors and will take some beating this week, with Spieth, world number one Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods all hoping to be in contention.
However, a poor end to his first round saw Spieth finish the day one over par after a 72.
He went to the 15th tee three-under, only to drop three shots on the next two holes. He then drove into the Barry Burn on the 18th, and ended with another bogey.
“It felt like a missed opportunity. I felt like I was really going well,” said the Texan, who hopes that a turn for the worse in the weather forecast for Friday will spark an upturn in his fortunes.
“I think I’m certainly in a recoverable situation. I mean, I imagine this is as easy as the course could play. So I don’t see the winning score being any better than it was in 2007 with tomorrow’s forecasted tough conditions and Sunday’s forecasted heavy winds.”
Trailing Kisner by one shot in the clubhouse were his compatriot Tony Finau and South African duo Zander Lombard and Erik van Rooyen, with the latter taking advantage of the ideal summer weather on his Open debut.
Van Rooyen went out in the second group of the day and shot 67, the only flaw on his scorecard coming with a bogey at the last, the hole that was the scene of Frenchman Jean Van de Velde’s infamous final-day meltdown in 1999.
However, it was still a fine start for the 28-year-old, who qualified for his first British Open by coming second at the Joburg Open.
“It was playing as easy as it was going to play this whole week this morning, no wind at all. I think it’s going to pick up from now onwards. So you had to go out and take advantage of it,” said Van Rooyen, whose compatriot Brandon Stone shot a three-under 68.
Stone has come to Carnoustie fresh from a spectacular final round of 60 to win the Scottish Open at Gullane last weekend, and South Africans have previous at winning the Claret Jug in these parts. —