The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Stars and Stripes flying on first day
THE OPEN: Kuchar joins young US stars in share of lead, but English pair in contentionaspep talk fires up McIlroy
Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka, the red-hot future of US golf, seized the lead of the 146th Open Championship yesterday and dragged veteran Matt Kuchar along for the ride as the Stars and Stripes dominated day one at Royal Birkdale.
The younger pair both won their final tournaments before landing in Lancashire – Koepka’s being the last major, the US Open at Erin Hills – and shot five-under 65s in the tougher conditions of the morning play.
Kuchar later joined them after following a surging five-under 29 on the front nine with nine straight pars on the back in the easier weather of the afternoon.
With strong winds and rain forecast for all tomorrow’s play, the trio have a narrow one-stroke lead over England’s Paul Casey and South Africa’s former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.
A resurgent Ian Poulter and Scottish Open champion Rafa Cabrera Bello from Spain are just two off the lead in what is predicted to be the best day for scoring at Birkdale this weekend.
Rory McIlroy had plunged to five-over after six before a pep talk from caddie JP Fitzgerald saw him rally for a 71, still six shots off the pace.
Scots Richie Ramsay and Martin Laird are just three shots back.
Matt Kuchar is a positive kind of guy – he was still thrilled with his co-leading 65 despite finishing with nine straight pars, for example.
Even when battered by storms at Dundonald Links last week, the veteran among the three Americans leading the Open Championship was thinking of the bright side.
“We had a couple of awfully challenging days at the Scottish Open,” he said. “And I thought, I’m glad I’m over here, I’m glad I’m doing this.
“It was extremely difficult but this is not something I’d ever do in the States. And I was getting a feel for the shots you have to play over here.
“I thought ‘this is a perfect tune-up for coming into this week’.
“And I forgot how good Royal Birkdale was, so I enjoyed my practice and felt I had a good feel for the golf course.”
It didn’t feel quite like 29 for the outward nine, but “you take your opportunities where you get them,” he said.
“We had it challenging for six holes but nothing like the guys with the earlier tee times,” he conceded. “I was just trying to survive the sixth hole, but ended up getting a birdie there.
“The back nine I stayed incredibly aggressive. I had a couple of opportunities I wasn’t able to convert but sitting here at five-under par, I’m awfully pleased.”
He played with Richie Ramsay, who continued his recent good form with a 68 – and the pair go back a bit.
“I’ve seen Richie around for years,” he said. “He’s kind of like myself, a US Amateur champ, and he played a lot at my home club, the Golf Club of Georgia. We have a lot of mutual friends, and he’s a good guy to play with.”
Kuch has played twice at Birkdale before, but remembers most the advice given to him here by the late Payne Stewart.
“I was close to turning pro and most of the Tour players said I should strike while the iron was hot, but Payne said stay in school.
“He said ‘The PGA Tour is going to be here for the next 100 years. Don’t be someone wishing he had those two years back to be a college kid.’
“Now I’m in the prime of my career, that’s a vivid memory from 1998.”