The Open recap: Scheffler snaps at fan, Tiger Woods blunders, Mcilroy stumped by Troon
The big guns will battle it out for victory at The Open over the next four days at Royal Troon, where the year's final major is up for grabs. Rory McIlroy will be desperate to bounce back from his heartbreaking US Open near-miss last month, while Bryson DeChambeau will hope to build on his breathtaking win at Pinehurst.
Home favourite Robert MacIntyre will fancy his chances after posting -18 to win the Scottish Open on Sunday, while the likes of Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Brian Harman are also in action.
On a wet and windy opening day in Troon, see below for Express Sport's live updates from The Open...
Related articles LIV Golf stars get huge OWGR lifeline after Sergio Garcia snubbed Ex-European Ryder Cup captain issues bold PGA Tour vs LIV Golf merger verdict 6 hours ago22:06Danny GallagherBrown leads outrightThe day is done at Royal Troon, and it's Daniel Brown who has edged out Shane Lowry to take the outright lead.
Another late birdie notched puts the Englishman one clear going into the second round, at six-under-par.
It's hugely impressive, considering the tough conditions out there and the fact that Brown only stamped his place at this Open mere weeks ago, after going through qualification at West Lancs on Merseyside.
Only Brown and 16 other players in the field find themselves under par and in the red digits as we head into Friday.
Be sure to check in bright and early with Express Sport in the morning, for all the daybreak action LIVE from Royal Troon.
Daniel Brown leads the Open at Royal Troon after going six-under-par on day one (Image: GETTY) 6 hours ago21:32Danny GallagherLead now tiedIt's been an incredible day, rather out of nowhere, for Dan Brown.
He birdies the 16th to go level at the top with Lowry on -5. What a day for the 29-year-old.
Two tied at the top.
Daniel Brown birdies the 16th to go 5-under. pic.twitter.com/oKCUngEMkJ
Boom! A birdie on the 18th for Shane Lowry, who now heads in as clubhouse leader.
He's carded an immaculate bogey-free round of 66, five-under-par.
The last time he led an Open like this, he went on to win it. A superb opening day from the Irishman.
Shane Lowry heads to the clubhouse with the lead at the Open (Image: GETTY) 8 hours ago20:03Danny GallagherScheffler fumingIt's not often we see Scottie Scheffler lose his rag!
He has just now, after hooking his tee shot on the penultimate hole, the par 3 17th.
His approach goes badly left, and Scheffler immediately turns around and berates a fan behind the tee, because he heard a phone go off.
"You've got to keep those things on silent!" said the American.
8 hours ago19:52Danny GallagherTiger Woods finishes +8And that's day one for Tiger.
It hasn't been too pretty. Plenty of frustrating moments, and the cold wind and rain won't have done his body many favours.
Misery is compounded by missing a short par putt on the 18th, with the grandstands looking on.
Tomorrow will be a huge test for Tiger, who does not have much time now before the turnaround to Friday's early tee.
8 hours ago19:50Danny GallagherEagle show on 16The course has given absolutely nothing today, but Jordan Spieth has just done a number over the par 5 16th.
Beautiful wood play in the approach saw Spieth's roll up and onto the green for a 12ft putt, which he sinks to huge applause.
Scottie Scheffler somehow got in even tighter with the fairway wood - but spurns his eagle chance! He settles for a birdie.
9 hours ago19:12Danny GallagherThe cruel 5thThe first par three on the course at Royal Troon is no easy ride.
Today in fact it's been anything but that. Just the 10 birdies across the entire field on the long P3 today!
Yikes.
Greenan. A true test.
Only 10 birdies all day on the long par-3 5th hole.@nttdata | #ShotView | #NTTDATAWall pic.twitter.com/nyGS8nkRUc
The old dog certainly has plenty of tricks.
It's not been the best day for Phil Mickelson, who very nearly won here at Troon in 2016.
He's +3 heading into the final green... but he hit a dart of a fairway iron to within two feet. A sublime shot.
He'll have a kick-in birdie to finish his opening round at +2.
9 hours ago18:31Danny GallagherLangasque speaks out after withdrawingRomain Langasque had a torrid morning, and has been accused of rage-quitting the Open because he was having such a nightmare at Royal Troon.
But now the player himself has set the record straight...
Hurt my back on hole 4 and it became worth and worth after it \u2026 see you next year @TheOpen \u2665\ufe0f https://t.co/Z2WklfvLJ4
\u2014 Romain Langasque (@Lancaisse) July 18, 2024 10 hours ago17:55Danny GallagherRose feeling something specialJustin Rose has had a dream of a first day at the Open.
A clean scorecard with two birdies saw him safely into the clubhouse at two-under. Rose, we mustn't forget, only qualified for the Open a few weeks ago when he went shoulder to shoulder with fellow hopefuls, and some amateurs, and Burnham and Berrow.
After his round today, Rose admitted it is “obvious” that time is running out for him to win a second major but he believes he can take advantage of this opportunity.
"I still believe that [I can win The Open] alright," he said. "I've been around long enough to know that I can – I know what I'm capable of.
"I've been pretty good in my career at winning the special ones. That's what I've been really working hard for the last two or three years – to have the opportunity late in my career to have a couple of special, amazing opportunities. That's what's keeping me going.
"Will I compete week in and week out at the very highest level at 44? Who knows, but I still feel like I'm a good enough golfer to have my weeks where it all comes together."
Justin Rose feels he's got it in him to win the Open (Image: GETTY) 10 hours ago17:33Danny GallagherLowry making a chargeThe links expert himself, Shane Lowry has made a surge to the opening 9 and currently sits three-under-par.
He hasn't finished an opening round at the Open since 2019 at Portrush... and he went on to win it.
Good early signs so far but anything can happen at Troon.
11 hours ago16:48Danny GallagherPostage Stamp claims WoodsA pretty terrible tee shot saw Tiger shoot long of the green, avoiding the bunkers but sitting in the thick stuff.
He somehow manages to chip on, but the long par putt is beyond him.
It's another dropped shot. The golf icon is struggling now.
11 hours ago16:40Danny GallagherTiger strugglingTiger Woods isn't having things his own way.
A promising start has given way to some struggles.
He's now three-over-par, having three putted painfully on the 7th for bogey.
He now heads onto the iconic P3 8th, the postage stamp.
(Image: ) 12 hours ago16:19Danny GallagherAmateur madness!BOOM! Jaime Montojo, the Spanish amateur, has just dunked in from the fairway on the very first hole.
He's taken just two swings so far at the Open, and already he's -2.
You love to see it.
What a way to start.
Jaime Montojo eagles the 1st. pic.twitter.com/8jutBrRcy1
The world No.1 isn't having things his own way at Troon.
He misses a birdie putt on the 4th, which would have taken him to -1.
Meanwhile, Brooks Koepka is quietly going on a charge in the bad weather.
12 hours ago15:46Charlie GordonMagic from KoepkaThough the conditions are testing, there is still room for the incredible in South Ayrshire this afternoon.
One of the shots of the day just came from Brooks Koepka at hole five.
Drilling a long iron into the wind from more than 200 yards, a big, slinging draw rolled onto the green and ended up a foot from the flag.
A smidge more juice and we'd be talking about one of the best hole-in-ones of all time.
\u2014 BKT (@BKoepkaTracker) July 18, 2024 12 hours ago15:44Charlie GordonNightmare start for Cam SmithCameron Smith, winner of The Open in 2022, is off to a nightmare start at Royal Troon.
Widely considered to be one of the best putters in the game, the Aussie missed a three-foot putt for double bogey on hole two and had to settle for a triple, having already bogeyed the first.
Four over through two for Smith. Not many people currently out there are in the red.
13 hours ago14:58Charlie GordonStars battle hostile conditionsThe conditions at Royal Troon are proving punishing for those currently out on course.
With howling wind and persistant rain, it seems unlikely anyone will catch -3 Justin Thomas at the top of the leaderboard this afternoon.
And for many it will be about damage limitation.
Rory McIlroy has failed in that regard as he's tied for 109th on +6.
Sahith Theegala, Rickie Fowler, and Bryson DeChambeau are also on course to post big scores, with Tommy Fleetwood in the clubhouse at +5.
In other news, Tiger Woods has kicked off his blustery round with a par at the first.
14 hours ago13:54Charlie GordonThomas leads, McIlroy in troubleJustin Thomas is the clubhouse leader after impressively carding -3 for his opening round.
British hopeful Sam Hutsby is having a dream debut as he's currently tied with Thomas.
Justin Rose is in one behind the leaders.
But Rory McIlroy is really struggling. Despite his strong showing at the Scottish Open last week, he's +5 through 11 holes and way down the field. He's already eight shots off the lead.
Rory McIlroy struggled through his opening round at Royal Troon (Image: Getty) 15 hours ago13:07Charlie GordonLatest odds for The Open winnerJustin Thomas is making the early running at Royal Troon but Scottie Scheffler is the red-hot favourite to clinch his third major title.
The outright odds, according to BetMGM, are as follows...
Scottie Scheffler: 22/5
Rory McIlroy: 8/1
Xander Schauffele: 11/1
Collin Morikawa: 14/1
Alexander Noren: 20/1
Ludvig Aberg: 22/1
Tony Finau: 22/1
Tyrrell Hatton: 25/1
15 hours ago12:35Charlie GordonRahm fumes on the ninthJon Rahm was left baffled after striking a 202-yard shot into the bushes on the ninth hole today.
The Spaniard struck it well and couldn't believe it when he saw where the ball landed.
"There's no way that's in the bushes," he said. "How is that possible with the hurricane out there?!"
Rahm somehow scrambled his way to a par on the ninth after his ball was miraculously found, leaving him level par at the halfway point of his opening round.
16 hours ago11:52Charlie GordonRose tied for the lead, DeChambeau strugglingLinks conditions are always testing and, as expected, some at Royal Troon have managed to cope better than others.
The group of players currently tied for the lead on -2 includes Alex Noren, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Chris Kirk, Russell Henley and Kim Min-kyu - but of course it's still early days.
Noren is the only one of that bunch currently in the clubhouse.
Elsewhere, Tommy Fleetwood is struggling on +2 through eight holes, and US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau is having a nightmare on +5 through seven.
Justin Rose enjoying a solid opening round at Royal Troon (Image: Getty) 16 hours ago11:48Charlie GordonFormer champ suffers embarrassing momentThe first shank of The Open is always a noteworthy occassion, and this year the unfortunate player was Todd Hamilton.
The 58-year-old, who won the tournament back in 2004, was caught out while trying to play out of a greenside bunker on hole three.
Embarrassingly, the ball skewed sideways off his club and landed straight back at his feet.
A red-faced Hamilton quickly addressed the ball again and hacked out to the side.
The American finished his round 11 over par and at the bottom of the field, at the time of writing.
16 hours ago11:43Charlie GordonFans sent Royal Troon warningRoyal Troon Golf Club is in a fairly convenient location on the west coast of Scotland, around 30 miles from Glasgow and 70 from Edinburgh.
But spectators have been warned that they must allow plenty of time to get to the historic course.
Pictures of massive queues at Glasgow Central station are circulating on social media and one fan, @422Kerry, claims that getting through security will also test people's patience.
"It's very wet and if you are heading down give yourself lots and lots of time," she wrote on X. "2.5 hours for the train and through security."
16 hours ago11:32Charlie GordonWelcome!Good morning and welcome to Express Sport's live coverage of The Open.
Play is already underway at Royal Troon so don't go anywhere, as we'll keep you up to date on all the important bits as they unfold.
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The Open recap: Scheffler snaps at fan, Tiger Woods blunders, Mcilroy stumped by Troon
The Open recap: Scheffler snaps at fan, Tiger Woods blunders, Mcilroy stumped by Troon
The Open recap: Scheffler snaps at fan, Tiger Woods blunders, Mcilroy stumped by Troon
The Open recap: Scheffler snaps at fan, Tiger Woods blunders, Mcilroy stumped by Troon
The Open recap: Scheffler snaps at fan, Tiger Woods blunders, Mcilroy stumped by Troon
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