Former champions Louis Oosthuizen and Jordan Spieth sparkled in the morning sunshine as the 149th British Open started at Royal St George’s yesterday.
South African Oosthuizen, the winner in 2010, made six birdies in a flawless 64 to finish on six under par, one shot ahead of American Spieth, champion in 2017.
Brian Harman matched his compatriot Spieth with a 65 to share second place, one clear of Canadian Mackenzie Hughes, South African Dylan Frittelli and veteran American Stewart Cink, another former champion.
Oosthuizen continued his stellar run of form at major championships.
The 38-year-old, British Open champion at St Andrews in 2010, finished tied second in this year’s PGA Championship and was runner-up at last month’s US Open.
“Probably in my mind it was the perfect round I could have played,” Oosthuizen said.
“I didn't make many mistakes.
“When I had good opportunities for a birdie, I made the putts. So yeah, just a very good solid round.”
Oosthuizen has the reputation of being one of the best ball strikers in golf and he needed that skill to plot his way around the undulating links course in Sandwich.
After starting his round with seven pars, Oosthuizen collected three successive birdies and picked up three more over the closing holes to become only the 10th player to shoot 64 or lower in the first round of the British Open.
“I was just very patient,” he said.
“I was trying to just hit my shots and didn't really hit anything close enough to make birdies those first few holes, and then all of a sudden just made two good putts on eight and nine and got the ball rolling.
“It happened quickly, but you still need to put yourself in those positions and I felt definitely the last 10, 11 holes I gave myself a lot of opportunities.”
It was a tough day for 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who battled to a round of 71.
The long-hitting American visited the treacherous rough on several occasions and made three bogeys on the front nine to drop back to one over.
DeChambeau appeared to have worked out the undulating fairways when he collected three consecutive birdies from the 12th but two more dropped shots left him well off the pace.
World No 1 Dustin Johnson started with a solid 68 and defending champion Shane Lowry of Ireland carded 71 playing with Oosthuizen and Spanish US Open champion Jon Rahm, whose 71 was spoiled by a double bogey at the ninth.
Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy, British Open winner in 2014, was among the late starters along with PGA champion Phil Mickelson. — Reuters
Oosthuizen off to dream start at British Open
Image: REBECCA NADEN / REUTERS
Former champions Louis Oosthuizen and Jordan Spieth sparkled in the morning sunshine as the 149th British Open started at Royal St George’s yesterday.
South African Oosthuizen, the winner in 2010, made six birdies in a flawless 64 to finish on six under par, one shot ahead of American Spieth, champion in 2017.
Brian Harman matched his compatriot Spieth with a 65 to share second place, one clear of Canadian Mackenzie Hughes, South African Dylan Frittelli and veteran American Stewart Cink, another former champion.
Oosthuizen continued his stellar run of form at major championships.
The 38-year-old, British Open champion at St Andrews in 2010, finished tied second in this year’s PGA Championship and was runner-up at last month’s US Open.
“Probably in my mind it was the perfect round I could have played,” Oosthuizen said.
“I didn't make many mistakes.
“When I had good opportunities for a birdie, I made the putts. So yeah, just a very good solid round.”
Oosthuizen has the reputation of being one of the best ball strikers in golf and he needed that skill to plot his way around the undulating links course in Sandwich.
After starting his round with seven pars, Oosthuizen collected three successive birdies and picked up three more over the closing holes to become only the 10th player to shoot 64 or lower in the first round of the British Open.
“I was just very patient,” he said.
“I was trying to just hit my shots and didn't really hit anything close enough to make birdies those first few holes, and then all of a sudden just made two good putts on eight and nine and got the ball rolling.
“It happened quickly, but you still need to put yourself in those positions and I felt definitely the last 10, 11 holes I gave myself a lot of opportunities.”
It was a tough day for 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who battled to a round of 71.
The long-hitting American visited the treacherous rough on several occasions and made three bogeys on the front nine to drop back to one over.
DeChambeau appeared to have worked out the undulating fairways when he collected three consecutive birdies from the 12th but two more dropped shots left him well off the pace.
World No 1 Dustin Johnson started with a solid 68 and defending champion Shane Lowry of Ireland carded 71 playing with Oosthuizen and Spanish US Open champion Jon Rahm, whose 71 was spoiled by a double bogey at the ninth.
Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy, British Open winner in 2014, was among the late starters along with PGA champion Phil Mickelson. — Reuters
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