Things you might have missed from Round One at The Open
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Welcome Robert
Mr Streb had never even been to Europe, let alone St Andrews before this week. A 66 is not a bad way to start.
Road Hole woe
Big numbers are guaranteed on the iconic 17th. Shane Lowry looked to have made the biggest of the day after taking eight, before former champion Mark Calcavecchia weighed in with a nine.
Watching you
Group number 15 (Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Patrick Reed) incurred the referee’s wrath at the start of the back nine. ‘Speed it up please chaps’, came the call.
Hands off
After hitting his ball into the gallery, JB Holmes had to let two groups through on 15 as he waited for a referee’s ruling. A spectator had picked up his ball.
The fashion stakes
Open conditions always bring out some funky attire. John Daly wears ‘those trousers’ whatever the weather, though. More shocking was Bernd Wiesberger’s choice of neck-turned-face cover up…
Near miss
Chris Wood, you have our sympathy. The Englishman was first reserve but failed to pick up a tee time. Maybe next year…
The best of Twitter
Scott Arnold: Decent start @TheOpen 1 under 71 played nice struggled a little coming all in all happy with the score in the end.
Ian Poulter: The wind speed is supposed to be 27mph more with 37mph gusts, that’s at least 10mph more than today. St Andrews will show its full teeth.
Paul Dunne: Solid first round today but plenty of golf left!Let’s see what the weather throws at us tomorrow! Thanks for the support so far! #TheOpen
Sergio Garcia: Solid 70 to start @TheOpen. Back nine was playing hard with the left to right wind so not bad at all. More to come tomorrow
Jason Day: Happy with my start today and looking forward to getting back into it tomorrow. Might need to be patient with the conditions! #TheOpen
Paul Lawrie: Nice little 66-6 this morning was ideal for scoring but took advantage which was cool , long way to go though
David Hearn: Well, wasn’t the finish I was looking for. The left wind coming in was tricky to say the least. Have to grind one out tomorrow. #TheOpen
Pablo Larrazabal: My lower back didnt resist today… Played with a lot of pain but i never gived up… Treatment and will see how i feel tomorrow…
Tyrrell Hatton: Played well today, back 9 was playing tough! Disappointing to double 17 but can’t do much about spike marks! Best round in a major though
Round One in numbers
53: Birdies made by Jordan Spieth in nine major championship rounds and 162 holes this year.
100: Percentage of fairways and greens in regulation hit by Spieth on the front nine.
110: Shots that Spieth is better than Tiger Woods in the 19 rounds they’ve both played in this season.
20: Shots over par that Woods is over his last three Open rounds.
29: David Lingmerth’s front nine, equalling the Old Course record set by Tony Jacklin in 1970.
8: Lingmerth’s birdie count – the highest in the field.
9: Mark Calcavecchia’s score on the Road Hole.
14: Holes that Graham DeLaet got through before missing a fairway or green in regulation.
48: Score under par of Louis Oosthuizen in his last 11 rounds on the Old Course.
7: Shots dropped by Jaco Van Zyl in the space of three holes on the back nine.
17: The hardest hole on the course, playing nearly one shot over its par four.
332: Bubba Watson’s average driving distance and four yards clear of the field.
2: Players who hit all 16 fairways (Matt Jones and Webb Simpson).
25: Putts taken by Paul Lawrie in 18 holes – the lowest in the field.
What tomorrow’s got in store?
Wind, rain, Tom on the bridge and Tiger on his knees? Stay tuned…
