Patrick Reed shot 5-under-par 66, and three others from the USA recorded 67s – Justin Thomas, Steve Stricker and Billy Horschel.
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A magnificent round of 63 from Phil Mickelson was good enough for a three-shot lead over Patrick Reed, who led for most of the day after going out early to shoot 66. Louis Oosthuizen aced the 14th hole, his tee shots taking two hops and diving out of sight, helping him to finish his round at even par.
As Day finished his opening round seven shots off the clubhouse lead, less-fancied countryman Jones made a storming start only to falter on the treacherous back nine.
“I missed the Open Championship past year, obviously”. The third shot looped up and rolled back into his footprint – “and my footprint is deeper than most”, Montgomerie said, jokingly – so he had to hit the ball out sideways with his fourth shot. “It’s nice to see where I am, but also to try to do something yet with my career before I turn 50”. His round including holing out his second shot from the fairway at the third hole for an eagle.
He stared for the longest time at a leaderboard next to the 17th green, realizing that even par wasn’t going to cut it on a ideal day as this. He played the par 5s in even.
Royal Troon’s motto might just sum up its two nine-hole loops.
The 46-year-old received congratulations from playing partners Lee Westwood and Ernie Els but was still shaking his head as he made his way to the scorers’ hut.
The “Big Four” have won six of the last eight majors between them but the American Zach Johnson is the defending champion after his victory at St. Andrews past year.
“The main thing is to stay with my game plan because the odds of me going out and eagling three. are rare”. “I knew if I pured that 6-iron [second shot], the back was going to come into play”.
“My [putting] stroke’s been great heading into here”, said the 22-year-old, who had 33 putts in his first round, nine more than Reed. Two years ago, he raised plenty of eyebrows by declaring himself to be one of the top five players in the world. They’ve won six of the last eight major championships and were on almost everyone’s list of favorites coming into the week. “I was happy with that and I was obviously really, really close to winning”, he said. “I’m not the one that’s writing the articles or doing anything”, Reed said.
“I always feel like I’m the best player in the world, but that’s just me”.
“Honestly, I don’t care”, he said.
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McIlroy’s playing partner Bubba Watson was five under par after six holes before running up a triple-bogey on the eighth on his way to a 70, but the biggest damage was being done by the par-four 11th, which played the hardest hole on the course in the 2004 Open.
