“I think you’re looking at something around eight to ten under that might win this tournament and I feel like this is a good start in trying to achieve that kind of figure”.
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Rory McIlroy at the 15th, on his way to a three-under 68. For Phil and others on the afternoon wave, that didn’t happen Troon’s famous winds died down to nearly nothing by Mickelson’s back nine – allowing him an opportunity to take his round far deeper into red numbers than those in the morning.
“It’s nice that the tournament started”, McIlroy said after opening with a 2-under 69.
Zach Johnson of the United States plays the 15th fairway during a practice round ahead of the British Open Golf Championship at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, Scotland, Wednesday, July 13, 2016.
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.
His compatriot Colin Montgomerie had the honour of hitting the first shot of the championship at 6.35am (local time) in front of enthusiastic galleries. Montgomerie made a decent pitch onto the green and putted out to get up and down – but he walked off the first hole with a double bogey. He had a 73. Johnson played in the easiest conditions and shot 71.
He leads Patrick Reed by 3 strokes.
“It was a lovely day, and I took advantage of it”, he said.
With a forecast for more inclement weather on Friday, Garcia accepts he is going to have to improve.
“A good number might be over par”.
The 2010 Open victor has recent form of such exploits having also managed a stunning ace at the Masters in Augusta in April.
The Spaniard was three under par after the first round at Royal Troon, five behind leader Phil Mickelson.
“I tried to qualify for the U.S. Open and wasn’t very happy about missing by a shot because I had a chance at Oakmont in ’07”, Stricker told Golf Digest after a practice round earlier this week. “… It went to the right a little harder”. Jordan Spieth has a score of 1-under-par through the 10th hole. He missed them both, a sign of what was to come.
Graeme McDowell was the lone late starter amongst the Irish sextet with the Portrush star reaching the turn in one over par after a front nine of one birdie and two bogeys.
NOT SO FAB FOUR: The top four players in the world were a combined even par.
“I’ve been pretty ordinary in practice this week and got my hopes up a little with my first nine holes and then it turned to absolute rubbish on the back nine. So because of that, I’m not thinking much of it”.
But to birdie the first four definitely doesn’t hurt.
Who thought 20 years ago that we would be sitting here talking about whether Mickelson was going to drink a $40,000 bottle of wine from the Claret Jug for a second time but still be empty-handed when it comes to U.S. Open trophies?
“Obviously, you have to hole some putts here”, he said.
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That’s true at any major.
