The final major of the year has begun with the running of the 152nd Open Championship, and English major debutant Daniel Brown was the shock overnight leader after round one, with Shane Lowry just one back in pursuit of a second Open title.
Brown was one of the last players to finish late on Thursday evening, adding a birdie on the 18th to cap a magnificent round of 65 and pip Lowry in the clubhouse.
American Justin Thomas set the early benchmark with a three-under par round of 68 battling wet and windy conditions on the Scottish coast. But Rory McIlroy had a nightmare day shooting 78, seven over par, and will need a miracle round this afternoon to make it into the weekend. Tiger Woods cut a frustrated figure, too, as he laboured to an eight-over-par 79.
Follow live coverage of the 152nd Open Championship below:
The Open Championship 2024 – live updates from Royal Troon
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The 152nd Open Championship continues at Royal Troon in Scotland
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Leaderboard: -6 Brown; -5 Lowry; -3 Thomas
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-2 Noren, Hojgaard, Rose, Henley, Schauffele, Dean, Hughes
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English qualifier Daniel Brown a shock overnight leader on -6, one shot clear of 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry
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Rory McIlroy (+7) and Tiger Woods (+8) suffer nightmare start to Open Championship
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The Open 2024 tee times: Full schedule for round two
Rory McIlroy way off Open lead after not adapting well enough to conditions
Thursday 18 July 2024 17:42 , Mike Jones
A downbeat Rory McIlroy effectively dismissed his chances of mounting a challenge for the 152nd Open after struggling to an opening 78 at Royal Troon.
McIlroy was level par after seven holes before running up a double bogey on the signature par-three eighth, the Northern Irishman’s first attempt to escape a bunker on the Postage Stamp coming back to his feet.
With the back nine playing downwind McIlroy was hopeful of repairing the damage, only to drive out of bounds on the 11th to run up another double bogey and eventually finish seven over par, 10 shots behind clubhouse leader Justin Thomas.
Rory McIlroy way off Open lead after not adapting well enough to conditions
