Brown makes late birdies for a one-shot lead over Lowry in wind-challenged British Open

Daniel Brown had an unforgettable debut at the British Open, birdieing two of the last three holes on Thursday at Royal Troon. His 6-under 65 put him in the lead, with just enough spectators left in the twilight to celebrate his achievement. Shane Lowry, playing bogey-free, finished one shot behind with a 66, marking his best start in 46 majors.

Lowry’s familiarity with the course and its challenging winds, having visited Troon two weeks prior, paid off. The true surprise was Brown. A one-time winner on the European Tour, Brown had struggled recently, failing to make the cut in seven consecutive tournaments since March. However, he managed to turn things around, earning his spot at the British Open through final qualifying and finishing 61st at the Scottish Open.

The wind was a major factor, changing the usual strategy for the players. Rory McIlroy found the conditions tough, shooting 78 with two double bogeys. Similarly, U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau struggled, scoring 76. Tiger Woods also had a challenging start, recording a 78, his highest in a major since the 2015 U.S. Open.

Lowry’s performance was notable, especially his putting. He emphasized the importance of his earlier practice in similar winds at Troon. “I saw the golf course in every wind possible… it’s paying off,” he said. Justin Thomas, despite a few setbacks, managed a 68, feeling that the course’s punishments were harsher than at the Scottish Open.

Xander Schauffele and Justin Rose, both scoring 68, also stood out. Rose, who had to go through final qualifying, appreciated the opportunity to compete. Scottie Scheffler, battling the wind and occasional rain, found it challenging, scoring 70.

Lowry, recalling his win at Royal Portrush five years ago, found his stride around the turn. He made crucial birdies and pars, including a 25-foot putt on the 10th and a 20-foot birdie putt on the 11th, finishing his round with a wedge to 5 feet for his 66. Despite the excitement from the crowd, Lowry reminded himself that it was only the first day.

Thomas, starting earlier, faced challenges on the back nine but managed to keep his score in check. His tee shot landed in a bush on the 12th hole, leading to a double bogey, but he finished strong with birdies on the 17th and 18th holes.

Former Royal Troon winner Justin Leonard, honored with the opening tee shot, struggled, scoring 80, one of 12 rounds of 80 or higher. John Daly and Cameron Smith, the Open champion from two years ago, also had difficult rounds.

The changing wind direction caused problems for many, including McIlroy. Struggling to adapt, he made errors, including an out-of-bounds drive on the 11th. Reflecting on his round, McIlroy admitted, “The conditions were tough… I just didn’t do a good enough job.” He now hopes to make it through to the weekend.

Overall, the challenging conditions at Royal Troon tested even the best players, making for an exciting and unpredictable start to the British Open.