Justin Thomas Out in Front After Day One at Royal Troon

Greetings to the opening round in the Open Championship. This day is greatly anticipated, but viewers must strategize because of the time difference and the extended program. The whole field is teeing off from the first hole, making it the longest golf day of the year. We are here to help you stay up.

For those on the East Coast who didn’t get up at 1:35 a.m. for Justin Leonard’s first shot, or if you wanted to sleep in California after the 10:35 p.m. start, this file will bring you up to speed on Royal Troon’s early highlights.

There are several stories to tell when the event starts. Rory McIlroy seeks atonement after his failure at the US Open. Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Bryson DeChambeau are all in peak shape, hoping for their second major championship of the season. Tiger Woods is competing in The Open for just the third time since 2019.

Justin Leonard’s first shot was an homage to his 1997 victory at Troon, followed by Todd Hamilton, the 2004 winner here. Local favorite Jack McDonald rounded out the initial group. They were the first of 53 groups to start on the first hole. The last tee time of the day, comprising Jeunghun Wang, Aguri Iwasaki, and Sam Horsfield, is about 10 hours after Leonard’s group, resulting in around 15 hours of golf activity on Thursday and Friday. There will be a golf marathon in Scotland.

Tiger in Troon: Tiger Woods has started his round at Royal Troon. The 15-time major champion started with two pars before making a lengthy birdie putt on the third hole. Can he keep this momentum going and improve on his previous significant performances this year? Woods made the Masters cut and finished 60th, but he missed the PGA Championship and the US Open. This is Woods’ first appearance in all four majors since his 2021 car tragedy.

Full Circle for Justin Thomas: Justin Thomas has come a long way in only one year. Last year, he began The Open Championship with an 82, a reflection of his troubles in the 2023 season. Thomas now leads The Open after shooting a 68 on Thursday at Royal Troon. He made five birdies in his first ten holes, despite a double bogey and a bogey on holes 12 and 13. He shot 68 after making birdies on the last two holes.

“I’m extremely pleased,” Justin Thomas added. “Birdieing the final two holes leaves a whole different flavor in my mouth. I felt like I just had one terrible swing today, but I was patient and kept my head down.

Justin Thomas finished his round by hitting his 238-yard 17th to 8 feet and nailing a 25-footer on the 18th with his new Scotty Cameron putter. Despite previous troubles at the Open, Justin Thomas hopes to rectify that this week.

Turn Back the Clock: The Open often serves as a platform for seasoned players. Early Thursday, Justin Rose and Adam Scott, both in their forties, had impressive performances. Rose scored a bogey-free 2-under 69, while Scott finished at 1-under 70. Rose, who won his berth via final qualifying, has participated in every major since 2010, with the exception of the 2022 Open due to injury. Scott, who made his major debut in the 2000 Open, has not missed a single one since and is aiming for his first Open championship.

Return to Sender: Rory McIlroy found the Postage Stamp hole difficult, as he double-bogeyed it from 118 yards out, putting him 2 over par early in his round. Despite finishing fourth in last week’s Genesis Scottish Open, McIlroy struggled at Troon, recording a 78, his best score in a major since 2019.

Tide changes for Wallace: Matt Wallace demonstrated the difficulty of Royal Troon by leading early after holing out from 84 yards on the fourth hole. However, a triple-bogey on the next hole pulled him back. He ended the round with a 70, two strokes behind early leader Justin Thomas.

Weather is usually a factor in The Open. Thursday is forecast to be overcast with periodic showers and drizzle, with winds gusting up to 25 mph from the south. As usual, summer weather in Scotland is unpredictable, so keep up with the full-week prediction.

Stay tuned here for updates during the first round of The Open Championship.