Rory McIlroy still managed to finish in the red despite an errant performance off the tee in the first round of the 153rd Open.
Home favourite McIlroy bogeyed the 1st after missing a short putt for par but he recovered well to progress nicely to 3-under par around the turn.
The wheels soon came off for the grand slam champion as he fell all the way back to level par, but a birdie on the penultimate hole after a brilliant approach from the deep rough saw McIlroy finish the day at 1-under par and right bang in contention.
That's just three shots off the pace, currently set by a logjam group of players including Harris English, Jacob Skov Olesen, Haotong Li, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Matt Fitzpatrick.
McIlroy incredibly found just two fairways all day, which came at the 8th and 9th.
He didn't hit a single fairway on the back nine, which will no doubt be some concern for the Northern Irishman heading into Friday.
As expected, pre-tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler is hot on the heels of the leaders courtesy of a 3-under 68.
Scheffler nearly holed out for eagle on the 17th, a shot that was made even more dramatic after what unfolded in the commentary box.
The World No.1 is seeking a first Open Championship, which would send him to within one leg of the career grand slam.
England's Tyrrell Hatton also carded a 68 alongside his compatriot Matt Jordan.
Justin Rose, Lee Westwood and Rickie Fowler all moved nicely into contention with rounds of 2-under 69.
Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, and 2019 Open winner Shane Lowry also kept themselves in the hunt thanks to rounds of 70.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele carded a level par 71.
Ireland's Padraig Harrington hit the first tee shot and he brought the house down with an opening birdie, but he would go on to card a 75.
Elsewhere, LIV Golf superstar Bryson DeChambeau posted his worst opening round at a major with a dismal 7-over 78.
1 | Jacob Skov Olesen | -4 |
1 | Haotong Li | -4 |
1 | Matt Fitzpatrick | -4 |
1 | Christiaan Bezuidenhout | -4 |
1 | Harris English | -4 |
6 | Scottie Scheffler | -3 |
6 | Matt Jordan | -3 |
6 | Tyrrell Hatton | -3 |
6 | Sadom Kaewkanjana | -3 |
Scroll down this page to see how the first round played out at the 153rd Open...
Fitzpatrick -4 (67)
What a first round that is from Matt Fitzpatrick, who closes his day with a beautiful low cut drive and a GIR on the 18th.
He comfortably putts in for par to enter the clubhouse with a 4-under 67, and more importantly tied for the lead.
Fowler -2 (7)
Wouldn't an Open challenge from Rickie Fowler be a great story?
Long-time fans of the American will be cautiously excited so far, with the former Olympian currently -2 in his quest for his long-awaited maiden Major victory (and first tour win in two years).
Meanwhile, a certain Northern Irishman is approaching the practice green...
Macintyre E, DeChambeau E, Rose E
One of the biggest groupings of the day arrives on the tee, with former Scottish Open champ Robert Macintyre first up.
The Scot splits the fairway, before Bryson DeChambeau bombs his drive into the second cut to the left.
Rose opens his round in clinical fashion, hitting a slightly shorter drive that lands just short of the first fairway bunker.
Lowry E (13)
After starting the 153rd Open in fine form across the front nine, things are threatening to spiral a little bit for Shane Lowry. After missing the green on 13, he produces a poor chip and gets his par save badly wrong after to drop back down to Even par on the day.
Reporters nearby note that Lowry has a bit of a heated exchange with his caddy shortly after.
Fitzpatrick -4 (16)
WHAT A SHOT!
Matt Fitzpatrick sends his tee shot on 16 into a steep bank of rough to the right of, and well below, the green.
Calamity Corner is no trouble for the Englishman, however, who spectacularly holes out for birdie without even taking a bounce.
He takes his score to -4 and grabs a share of the lead in the process.
Calamity Corner class. Matt Fitzpatrick makes birdie to tie the lead. pic.twitter.com/8a2XaA3RHf
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025
Jordan -3 (68)
An outstanding opening round comes to an end for Matthew Jordan, who sinks a short par putt to close the day with a 3-under 68 and maintain his strong run of form at the historic major.
The Englishman enters the clubhouse the leader among the Open's British contingent, with Matt Fitzpatrick hot on his heels also at -3 through 15. Lee Westwood is the next closest at 2-under.
Death.
— Jamie Kennedy (@jamierkennedy) July 17, 2025
Taxes.
Matthew Jordan Top-10 at The Open.
Lee Westwood has spoken to reporters after posting a 2-under 69 that caught many by surprise and has him firmly within grasp of the lead going into the second day.
"It was enjoyable until the rain came down - then got testing and miserable! But I've thoroughly enjoyed being back here. Portrush remains playable even when the conditions are tough. It is a fantastically well designed golf course," he said.
"It's as fair a links test as you can get. Fairways are fairly flat. It almost tells you where to hit it and it changes so much when conditions change.
"It's nice to not be playing indoor golf all the time and just hitting it to a yardage - it's nice to be able to use some creativity.
Bradley -1 (2)
After a straightforward start at the first, US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley opens his round in confident fashion, draining a 10-footer for birdie.
A strong start for the American after a couple of weeks where his name seemingly has rarely left the headlines.
Jordan -3 (17)
It's an all-over-the-place 17th for Matthew Jordan, who crushes his tee shot and finds the sand with his second.
He follows this up with a smart scramble out of the bunker, however, to remain within one of the lead going into the final hole of his day.
Matt Fitzpatrick remains nerveless at 14 to sink his par putt and remain within a shot of the leaders.
He then follows this up with an excellent tee shot on 15, leaving himself a strong chance to tie the lead.
Fitzpatrick -3, Fox +4, Matsuyama +4 (14)
Our joint-leader Jacob Skov Olesen has just spoken to reporters about his fabulous start at The Open.
Olesen says that his round wasn't on the cards as his approach game has been 'awful' recently.
Is he going to head off to the range now to stay sharp ahead of tomorrow?
"Not in this rain," he said. "I don't want all my clubs soaked for tomorrow."
Rahm E, Schauffele E, Spaun E (11)
Lee Westwood has had a superb day here.
The Englishman, playing in his first Open in three years, gets a warm reception at the 18th hole.
He gets up and down for par to post a 2-under 69.
The big question now, though, is will he be able to back it up tomorrow?
Keegan Bradley has just teed off.
The US Ryder Cup captain has been the source of debate for weeks.
It looks very likely, now, that he'll be a playing skipper at the biennial showdown this September.
A good performance at The Open will help make up Bradley's mind, but he's missed the cut at the final men's major of the year on his previous five starts.
Burns E, Koepka +3, Potgieter +5 (11)
Koepka locates his golf ball but is forced to take a drop.
He eventually departs the 11th with a double bogey to slip back to 3-over.
Rahm -1 (11*)
Jon Rahm is not happy at all on the 11th tee box.
He believes that a spectator whistled on the top of his back swing.
"Really?" Rahm can be heard saying.
Rahm's ball settles in the thick rough on the right side of the fairway and he's forced to chop out.
Everybody hide.
Rahm -1, Schauffele -1, Spaun -1 (10)
Jon Rahm can be heard yelling after hitting his second shot at the 10th.
He's telling his golf ball to sit, but it doesn't listen and races through the back of the green.
First mistake of the day...
Phil Mickelson will be delighted with his first round here at Royal Portrush.
The six-time major winner carded a 1-under 70 and currently sits in a tie for 11th place.
Of his day, he said: "I really enjoyed it. I played really well, and I had an opportunity.
"Like I really enjoy playing these conditions and playing this tournament. It's just a lot of fun."
Mickelson's round also included holing out for par from the sand on the 3rd.
His golf ball had plugged and he failed to get it out with his second.
"That was a crazy one," Mickelson said.
"It was really one of maybe two poor shots I hit, I felt. That bunker shot that buried in the lip, and then to make it, it was obviously a lot of luck.
"It was crazy. I was just trying to save bogey, and I got lucky and it went in."
A short game masterclass.
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025
Mickelson holes out from the sand. pic.twitter.com/hEX1brav4i
Koepka +1 (11*)
Brooks Koepka is having an absolute nightmare on the par-4 11th.
A search party is trying to locate his golf ball, which he believes is amongst some very thick bushes.
Haotong Li has just completed his first round.
And how good is 67 going to feel at the end of the day?
Rahm -2, Schauffele -1, Spaun -1 (9)
We mentioned Rahm had a look at birdie at the 9th, but the Spaniard's effort stops short.
Xander Schauffele does well to save his par after his ball trickled off the green.
The American chips to four feet and will remain in the red.
Rahm -2 (9*)
Jon Rahm is in a little bit of trouble at the 9th after slightly miscuing his tee shot.
From the rough, Rahm manages to find the front edge of the green.
The Spaniard immediately grabs his brolly from caddie Adam Hayes to shield himself from the wind and rain.
It's really coming down now...
Jordan -4 (13*)
England's Matthew Jordan is enjoying his opening round.
After turning in 1-under, Jordan has birdied 10, 11 and 12 and is now in a share of the lead alongside Olesen and Haotong Li.
Rahm -2, Schauffele -1, Spaun -1 (8)
Jon Rahm has never lifted the Claret Jug but he's got a superb record in The Open.
And judging by how he has played his first eight holes it's easy to see why.
Rahm finds another green at the 8th and has a superb opportunity to join the crowd on 3-under, but it just slips by.
Spaun makes par.
Schauffele, meanwhile, is made to work for his four after misjudging his birdie putt.
The defending champion holds his nerve from five feet...
Westwood -3 (14)
Lee Westwood makes a silly mistake from absolutely nowhere.
The Englishman watches a three-foot putt for par slip by on the 14th...
