The 154th Open Championship is officially underway, here are five of the biggest takeaway's after Thursday's first round.
After an exciting opening round, the tournament picture is beginning to develop. With most players teeing off while fans in the United States were asleep, let's take a look at the action in Southport, England.
1. The World No. 1 Delivers Again
After missing the cut for the first time in 78 weeks at the Genesis Scottish Open, Scheffler had a few extra days to prepare for the Open Championship.
To not many people's surprise, Scottie came ready to play. He carded four birdies on his first six holes and averaged 340 yards with 92.9% accuracy across his first 18 holes.
Scheffler finished the day with a 68 (2-under), leaving him in a strong spot just three shots back from the lead ahead of tomorrow's second round.
2. Maybe Bryson DeChambeau Does Have A Strategy
After receiving criticism earlier this week from a former Open Champion, who claimed that he has "no strategy" when it comes to links courses, Bryson DeChambeau let his clubs do the talking.
On the second hole, he made a 17-foot putt for birdie, and coasted through the front nine with seven consecutive pars. His opening round featured five birdies and two bogeys, finishing at 3-under.
Bryson stands just two strokes behind the leader. He entered the championship under intense pressure after missing the cuts at his first three majors, Bryson declined speaking to the press.
If the LIV Golf star can continue playing at the level he showed today, he'll prove exactly why he belongs in the conversation with the world's best players.
3. Unexpected Names Lead Early
Daniel Brown and Sungjae Im held the top spot early in the first round, Jackson Suber surged into the spotlight, carding a 5-under performance to claim the solo lead.
The three names are outside the top 80 World Golf Rankings, it was an unexpected sight at the top of the leaderboard on Thursday.
Their strong start has shaken up the early Open Championship picture, proving once again that links golf can create surprises and give every player an opportunity to make their mark.
4. Did the Morning Wave Have the Edge?
For much of the morning, players benefited from relatively calm conditions. As the day progressed, strong coastal winds swept across the course making it more firm and demanding for the afternoon wave.
The tougher conditions were reflected, as Golf Data recorded the morning to average 71.0 strokes compared to an average of 72.6 in the afternoon.
With three rounds left to play, the unpredictable elements will remain a key factor in shaping the leaderboard and testing players ability to adapt.
5. R&A Published Code of Conduct
On July 8th, the R&A rolled out its first ever spectator code of conduct as more than 30,000 fans are expected to attend the Open Championship - a record breaking crowd.
"The Open Commitment" highlights these five requirements for fans: respect the players, respect the links, respect each other, be aware, enjoy responsibly.
The announcement comes after several recent incidents across professional golf, including when Wyndham Clark experienced excessive heckling at the 2026 U.S. Open and there has been an overall increase of fans shouting during players swings.
While energetic crowds have become a part of the modern game, the R&A decision shows it wants to protect the integrity of the competition.
Following the first round, it appears the code of conduct is already making its impact.
Discover more with bet365
Read the latest Golf news.
