The last six Troon Opens have been won by Americans but Reed is not getting ahead of himself and is more concerned with the rain and strong winds forecast to arrive on Friday.
Advertisement
There is no doubt that players on Day 1, especially the early starters, will have the best conditions of the week.
All of the action at Royal Troon can be found live on Golf Channel.
Jones had dropped back to three under par after becoming the latest victim of the 11th, but playing partner Richard Sterne had become the first player – in match 23 – to make birdie on the hole to reach four under.
“I get excited to be able to play the Open Championship.because of how challenging the golf course is and the weather”. He was told the opening three holes are par 4s that measure under 400 yards, and that seemed to intrigue him.
Fowler, who will represent the United States in Rio alongside Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar, understands why the likes of his pal McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth have opted out.
McIlroy double-bogied the 13th to fall back from four under to two under.
“I know the risk is very low but, if something were to happen, I’d never forgive myself for that”.
The 145th Open Championship at the Royal Troon Golf Club is set to get underway later tonight.
Thomas’s impressive run came to an end at the fifth, although only by a matter of inches after failing with a 25ft attempt, but another at the seventh lifted him to five under, where he was joined by Reed in the group behind when he also birdied the seventh.
It was Montgomerie who once famously said about the start at Royal Troon that if a player is not under par at the turn, he might as well walk over to the clubhouse at adjacent Prestwick and have lunch.
The day began with local favourite Colin Montgomerie hitting the opening drive – his first appearance at an Open in six years and what may well be his last.
Just one month ago, Johnson was known as golf’s best athlete who had won every year he has been on the PGA Tour – the longest streak since Tiger Woods – but who had everything go wrong in the majors. The R&A chose him to be the first player to hit a shot on a flawless Thursday morning along the Irish Sea.
Taking my seat in the stand on the first tee at 6.02am – Montgomerie’s tee time was 6.35am – around 20 people were already in their places.
Although only 33 years old, Oosthuizen is an experienced competitor and won’t look to pass up the opportunity of an early morning start at the Open Championship.
Advertisement
Luke Donald and Marc Leishman both made birdie. Five dogs were on the beach, running along the shores amid tall shadows cast by the rising sun.
