The Los Angeles Post
California & Local U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: January 22, 2025
Today: January 22, 2025

Golf-England's Brown takes shock lead in British Open

The 152nd Open Championship
July 18, 2024
Reuters - Reuters

TROON, Scotland (Reuters) -English journeyman Dan Brown birdied the last hole to card a first-round 65 and lead the British Open by one shot from Ireland's Shane Lowry on Thursday.

The 29-year-old Brown, a one-time European Tour winner who came through qualifying to earn his place in the year's final major, took advantage of benign late conditions.

He sank an eight-foot birdie putt at the last to move top of the leaderboard with a bogey-free round.

"It did get dark out there and got a little bit tricky but the wind dropped as well," Brown told reporters.

Golf-England's Brown takes shock lead in British Open
The 152nd Open Championship

"You've got those bright yellow scoreboards out there so it's hard to miss, but I felt comfortable with my game."

Lowry, the 2019 Open champion, birdied the last hole to complete a flawless five-under-par 66 and move two shots clear of American Justin Thomas, who took the early clubhouse lead at the 152nd Open with a 68 at a blustery Royal Troon.

"Actually, I holed a putt out there today and I thought that's the first time I've led the Open for five years," Lowry told Sky Sports.

Golf-England's Brown takes shock lead in British Open
The 152nd Open Championship

"I love this tournament and I'd dearly love to give myself a chance to win it again. If I can keep holing putts I can be dangerous."

American Xander Schauffele, Swede Alex Noren, England's Justin Rose and Joe Dean, American Russell Henley, Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard and Canadian Mackenzie Hughes finished on two under with world number one Scottie Scheffler among a group a further shot back.

Several big names struggled, however, in testing conditions on the Ayrshire coast, not least U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau who was six over after 11 holes before making eagle on the 16th to finish at five over.

POOR START

World number two Rory McIlroy also endured a poor start to his bid for a fifth major title after carding a miserable 78.

Thomas, who has never had a top-10 finish at the Open and missed the cut last year, birdied the second, fourth and seventh as well as the Postage Stamp par-three eighth.

A double-bogey six at the 12th and a bogey at 13 stalled his progress but he holed a 17-foot par putt at the 15th and birdied the last two holes.

"I played so well today but gave a couple back at the beginning of the back nine," former world number one Thomas said.

"I'm playing really well and feeling confident about my game. It's nice to get off to a good start in a major."

Northern Ireland's McIlroy bogeyed the first and dropped two shots at the Postage Stamp as his bunker escape rolled back into the cavernous sand trap.

Things got worse when he bogeyed the 10th and he emerged with a double bogey at the 11th after hitting his tee shot out of bounds over the railway track skirting the course.

Defending champion Brian Harman uncharacteristically endured an up-and-down front nine with two birdies and three bogeys before finishing on two over par.

Large galleries headed for home favourite Robert MacIntyre who was joined by Spain's Jon Rahm and England's Tommy Fleetwood.

Last week's Scottish Open winner MacIntyre started solidly but undid an early birdie with a missed par putt at the fifth and finished on one over, one shot ahead of Rahm, as Fleetwood struggled to a round of 76.

(Reporting by Ed Osmomd and Martyn Herman,Editing by Toby Davis and Ken Ferris)

Related

Sports|US

No. 2 South Carolina to host No. 5 LSU a day later than scheduled after winter weather in the South

The Southeastern Conference has postponed Thursday nightโ€™s womenโ€™s basketball game between No. 5 LSU and No. 2 South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, until Friday

No. 2 South Carolina to host No. 5 LSU a day later than scheduled after winter weather in the South
Sports|US

Bucs OC Liam Coen withdraws from consideration for Jaguars' coaching job, AP source says

Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen is no longer a candidate to be Jacksonvilleโ€™s next head coach

Bucs OC Liam Coen withdraws from consideration for Jaguars' coaching job, AP source says
Europe|Health|Sports

Spurs-Pacers games in Paris have a notable absence, with Gregg Popovich recovering at home

Indianaโ€™s Rick Carlisle has coached more games against San Antonioโ€™s Gregg Popovich than anyone else

Spurs-Pacers games in Paris have a notable absence, with Gregg Popovich recovering at home
Political|Sports|US

โ€˜The geezer gameโ€™ โ€“ a nearly 50-year-old pickup basketball game โ€“ reveals its secrets to longevity

A long-running pickup game in North Carolina โ€“ made up of โ€˜geezersโ€™ with various political leanings โ€“ thrives by reducing conflict.

โ€˜The geezer gameโ€™ โ€“ a nearly 50-year-old pickup basketball game โ€“ reveals its secrets to longevity
Share This

Popular

Celebrity|Entertainment|Europe|Sports

Paris Notebook: Haliburton praises Clark, NBA sells tickets in 50+ countries for Spurs-Pacers games

Paris Notebook: Haliburton praises Clark, NBA sells tickets in 50+ countries for Spurs-Pacers games
Food|Sports

Restaurant offers Ravens tight end Mark Andrews free food for life after dropping game tying playoff pass

Restaurant offers Ravens tight end Mark Andrews free food for life after dropping game tying playoff pass
Sports|US

AP's all-College Football Playoff team features an all-Ohio State offensive backfield

AP's all-College Football Playoff team features an all-Ohio State offensive backfield
Asia|Business|Sports

Dodgers announce deal with prized Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, who gets $6.5 million signing bonus

Dodgers announce deal with prized Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, who gets $6.5 million signing bonus

Thanks for reading The Los Angeles Post

Create your free account or log in to continue reading.

Already have an account? Sign In