Jackson Suber stormed into contention at Royal Birkdale while Rory McIlroy’s putting nightmare transformed The Open’s first round into instant Thursday drama.
The Open Championship didn’t wait long to deliver its first full-blown plot twist at Royal Birkdale. While the sport’s biggest stars battled firm turf, awkward bunkers and a growing afternoon breeze, 26-year-old Jackson Suber barged into the spotlight with a fearless 5-under 65.
Suber’s name wasn’t near the top of most pre-tournament prediction lists, but he played like he belonged there.
The PGA Tour newcomer punctuated his round with an eagle at the par-5 17th, stuffing a 233-yard approach inside seven feet before converting the putt.
That late charge pushed him clear of the early pack and made him the first player to reach 5-under.
The performance becomes even wilder considering Suber had never visited Europe before this week.
He also said he’d played only 27 holes of links golf before teeing it up Thursday. Apparently, he didn’t need much of an adjustment period.
Suber earned his Royal Birkdale opportunity after finishing tied for fourth at the RBC Canadian Open, one of his three top-10 results this season.
Now, in just his third major championship appearance, he’s gone from intriguing outsider to a name everyone will be watching Friday.
While Suber soared, Rory McIlroy’s opening round turned into a slow-motion wreck on the greens. McIlroy sat 3-over through 13 holes and ranked 155th in Strokes Gained: Putting among the 156-player field.
Three misses from inside four feet—at Nos. 7, 8 and 10—drained the life from a round that included a monstrous 389-yard drive onto the ninth green.
That blast produced McIlroy’s only birdie during the stretch, but consecutive bogeys at 10 and 11 erased the momentum.
He had already surrendered more than three strokes to the field with his putter and found himself hovering near 114th place, eight shots behind the lead.
Elsewhere, Collin Morikawa surged into contention with five birdies over a nine-hole stretch after an opening bogey.
Dan Brown and Sungjae Im posted matching 66s, while Bryson DeChambeau signed for a 67. Scottie Scheffler remained firmly involved with a 68, and local favorite Tommy Fleetwood opened with a 69.
Jordan Spieth stumbled to a 73, while Justin Rose struggled to a 75.
Royal Birkdale has already exposed the difference between surviving and contending. Suber attacked without fear. McIlroy couldn’t buy a putt. At The Open, one club—and one shocking round—can flip the entire championship before dinner.
Follow Timm Hamm on X at @IndyCarTim and the From the Rough Golf Podcast at FanStreamSports.com.
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