ST ANDREWS, Scotland - Americans are accustomed to leading after the opening round of major championships, but on day one of the 2024 Open Championship it was an unexpected name at the top - Daniel Brown.
Daniel Brown Leads After Surprising Round 1 at Royal Troon
It was an unexpected name that sat atop the leaderboard after the first round of The Open Championship at Royal Troon - world number 272 Daniel Brown. The American, who came through qualifying to make his Open debut, defied his ranking and inexperienced status in the event by carding a bogey-free 65 to take a one shot lead over Ireland's Shane Lowry.
Daniel Brown, hitting a tee shot on the 17th hole, has a one shot lead after the first round of the British Open (Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports)
Brown's impressive start has thrust him into the spotlight at what is the first major of his career. The 29-year-old is aiming to become the latest qualifier to prevail on the weekend, following in the footsteps of past shock winners such as John Daly and Paul Lawrie. He will hope to maintain his composure over the next three rounds as the pack hunts him down.
Shane Lowry aiming to go one better at scene of 2019 Open Championship triumph
While Daniel Brown grabbed the headlines, Ireland's Shane Lowry will also take plenty of confidence from his start. A former champion at Royal Troon after victory in 2019, Lowry carded four birdies in a bogey-free 66 to end Day 1 just one back.
Shane Lowry of Ireland catches the ball as he prepares to putt on the 18th green during his opening round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Troon golf club in Troon, Scotland, Thursday, July 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell) AP
The 37-year-old is chasing that elusive second major title and showed glimpses of the form that saw him lift the Claret Jug three years ago. Lowry is acutely familiar with the challenging conditions on offer and appears well equipped to mount a challenge over the demanding links.
Struggles for stars as Thomas provides light
One star begin brightly was Justin Thomas, who rediscovered crucial momentum for his season with a three-under 68. The American hopes that can kickstart a resurgence after he failed to qualify for the playoffs last year following an opening 82 at Royal Birkdale. His position at the top of the leaderboard briefly offers hope for some of the names further back.
Justin Thomas, who shot 3-under par, is in third place after the first round of the British Open/ Getty Images
Tiger Woods at Royal Troon
However, many of the game's big names struggled in the blustery Scottish links conditions. Notable among them was Tiger Woods, who failed to find his rhythm and mustered only a disappointing eight-over-par 79 to sit well outside the projected cut line.
"I didn't do a lot of things right today," Woods said. "I didn't hit my irons very close, and I didn't give myself a whole lot of looks today. I need to shoot something in the mid-60s tomorrow to get something going on the weekend.
Rory McIlroy's Struggles
Pre-tournament favorite Rory McIlroy faced a disappointing day, finishing with a score of 78. His performance included multiple mistakes, such as an out-of-bounds shot and inconsistent play, leaving him well below the cutline
Weather Challenges
The day was marked by typical Scottish weather, with gusty winds and rain affecting many players. Despite this, only 17 players managed to finish under par, emphasizing the difficulty of the course
Notable Absences from Top Performers
The windy links test posed a stern examination for the world's best on day one. It was a torturous start for many of the game's biggest names as they faced into the elements at Troon. Woods (79, 8-over), McIlroy (78), Wyndham Clark (78), Theegala (77), Homa (76), Bryson DeChambeau (76), Tommy Fleetwood (76), Hideki Matsuyama (75), Viktor Hovland (75) and Ludvig Aberg (75).
The Open has thrown up many surprises down the years and Daniel Brown's stunning start means this championship may yet produce more unexpected twists before the Claret Jug is decided on Sunday.
Brown came through with flying colors but must now show he can sustain his charge over the remainder of the championship as he aims to maintain his surprise status as overnight leader on the Ayrshire coast.
The windswept coastlines of Ayrshire will provide a further stern examination when Round 2 gets underway.
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