Spieth shares lead as McIlroy shows his mettle
THREE AMERICANS TOP LEADERBOARD AFTER DAY ONE AT ROYAL BIRKDALE
TWO-TIME major winner Jordan Spieth gave himself nine out of 10 yesterday after beginning his attempt to secure the third leg of a career grand slam in impressive fashion in the 146th Open Championship.
And resilient Rory McIlroy insisted he remained firmly in contention for a second Open title at Royal Birkdale after recovering from a woeful start to end the day six shots off the pace.
Spieth carded a bogey-free 65 to share the lead with US Open champion Brooks Koepka and Matt Kuchar, with Paul Casey and Charl Schwartzel a shot behind on four under.
Casey, who will celebrate his 40th birthday today, headed the challenge for a first English winner since 1992 ahead of compatriots Ian Poulter and Richard Bland, who were part of a fivestrong group on three under par.
While 2014 champion McIlroy, who suggested his pre-tournament odds of 20-1 represented a good bet, could only manage a 71, that was quite an achievement after playing the first six holes in five over par.
McIlroy covered the back nine in 32 with three birdies in the last four holes to finish one over par, the same score as playing partner and world No 1 Dustin Johnson.
The 65s of Ryder Cup teammates Spieth and Koepka equalled the second lowest firstround score in an Open at Birkdale, a shot outside Craig Stadler’s record of 64 set in 1983.
But after hitting just five of 14 fairways, Spieth acknowledged there was room for improvement as he looks to add the Open title to his Masters and US Open victories in 2015.
“I thought (yesterday’s) round was extremely important, as they all are, but given the forecast coming in, I thought you really needed to be in the red (under par),” the 23-year-old said.
“Everything was strong. I 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.
“I’d call it a top five major round that I’ve played. There are scores that I’ve shot that were closer to par that were better given what I needed to do.
“But I couldn’t have done much better (yesterday). I essentially missed two greens in some 15mph winds.”
Spieth had not played competitively since winning the Travelers Championship on his last start three weeks ago by holing a bunker shot on the first hole of a playoff with Daniel Berger.
And Koepka had been inactive for a week longer since claiming his first major title in the US Open at Erin Hills, where his 16-under-par total equalled the tournament record set by McIlroy in 2011.
“We had planned to take it off so it’s not a big deal,” said Koepka, who is trying to become the first person since Tiger Woods in 2000 to win the US Open and Open in the same year.
Only Woods, Bobby Jones (twice), Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson have achieved the feat.
“It felt like I’d been playing well and links golf just takes a creative mind. Sometimes golf can get a bit boring, but I see so many shots out here that are fun that it really gets me going.”
Casey’s last round in his thirties contained five birdies and a three-putt bogey on the 11th, but was a 12-shot improvement on his opening effort at Birkdale in 2008.
‘’Apparently life begins at forty so maybe that’s a good omen for me,’’ said Casey, who recovered to finish seventh in 2008.
“It felt like I had to do something with a very strong leaderboard and everyone saying that bad weather is coming.
“It was a case of making hay while the sun shines so it was important to capitalise on the conditions.’’
Nine years after finishing second to Padraig Harrington in 2008, Poulter’s three-under-par 67 was his lowest opening round in a major at the 54th attempt.
“Birkdale nine years ago felt pretty good on Sunday afternoon and it felt just as good (yesterday),” said the 41-year-old, who did television commentary on the Open last year after being sidelined with a foot injury.
“I played really well. A couple of putts slipped by the edge, but it adds up to a decent score so I’m pretty happy.”
Heavy rain and wind had made life a misery for the early starters, with former champion Mark O’Meara hitting the opening tee shot at 6.35am straight out of bounds.
O’Meara went on to card a quadruple-bogey eight on his way to an 11-over-par 81, but was far from alone in finding the 448yard par-4 a daunting prospect.
One player in each of the first three groups also went out of bounds and the first eight groups were a combined 23 over par for the opening hole before Sweden’s Alex Noren – who shot 68 – recorded the first birdie.
Matt Fitzpatrick had a oneunder 69 after being two over through six, and Danny Willett, his fellow Sheffielder, shot a 71.
Hillsborough’s Joe Dean carded 72, Moortown’s Nick McCarthy 74 and former Hallowes member and Yorkshire county player Adam Hodkinson an 80.
Everything was strong. I give it a nine across the board for everything. Jordan Spieth, co-leader after the first round of the Open at Royal Birkale with a 65.