Tommy Fleetwood leads the way after a superb Thursday at the Open Championship
Tommy Fleetwood will look to build on his brilliant start after he rode a wave of home support to the top of the leaderboard in the Open Championship on Thursday.
Roared on by a partisan crowd at Royal Liverpool, Fleetwood carded an opening 66 to share the clubhouse lead with South African amateur Christo Lamprecht and Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo on five under par.
Antoine Rozner, Adrian Otaegui and Brian Harman were all a shot behind, with former champion Stewart Cink – who denied Tom Watson a fairytale victory in 2009 – part of a group on three under which included US Open champion Wyndham Clark.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy battled back from a poor start to keep himself in the championship at level par. McIlroy, who lifted the Claret Jug at Hoylake in 2014, was two over par after 13 holes before making birdies on the 14th and 15th and a crucial par on the 18th after needing two shots to escape a greenside bunker. He will be among the morning starters on Friday, looking to close the gap.
Follow live coverage of the 151st Open Championship at Hoylake below:
The Open Championship 2023 – live updates from Hoylake
- The 151st Open Championship continues at Royal Liverpool
- Tommy Fleetwood holds overnight lead after superb five-under-par opening round
- Rory McIlroy among morning starters after level par opening round
- Australia’s Travis Smyth makes first hole in one of the Open at the 17th
- Just Stop Oil protester handed to police by Billy Horschel at The Open
- -8: Harman
- -5: Fleetwood
- -4: Lamprecht (a) Rozner, Stewart
- -3: Jordan, Clark, MW Lee, Sharma
- -2: , Spieth, Homa, Migliozzi, Otaegui, Grillo, SW Kim, Cink
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The Open 2023: Rahm and McIlroy toiling away
McIlroy -1 (13), Rahm +3 (13), Rose +6 (13)
It looks a real battle out there at the minute with Rory and Rahm experiencing that first-hand. McIlroy has work to do from the sand while Rahm is just off the green.
Classy stuff from the pair, though, as they both get up and down nicely to save their pars.
Ben Fleming21 July 2023 13:39
The Open 2023: Another par save for Harman
A slight bit of trouble for the American off the tee as his iron into the par three just drops into the bunker. It’s well dug out of the sand and he’s got just over seven feet for par…nerveless stuff by the American who fires it right into the heart of the cup.
A near-perfect round of golf from the leader who has a final chance at a birdie on the par-five 18th.
Ben Fleming21 July 2023 13:37
The Open 2023: Hovland steadies the ship
Hovland E (13), Finau +3 (13)
After a couple of bogeys, Hovland steadies the ship with a pair of pars, the second coming after a very solid nine-foot putt. Finau makes his par too as he continues to flirt dangerously with the cut line.
Ben Fleming21 July 2023 13:36
The Open 2023: Double bogey for Homa
Homa -2 (11), Hatton E (11), Morikawa +5 (11)
The American has been so consistent off the tee so far this tournament but a wild tee shot on the 11th gets him in all sorts of bother. From there, he’s in trouble and a four-foot missed putt for bogey means he walks to the 12th tee back down at -2 after a double bogey.
His fellow American and playing partner, Morikawa, also drops a shot with his third bogey of the day. A big finish needed for him as well. Hatton makes par.
Ben Fleming21 July 2023 13:32
The Open 2023: Tidy par save for Harman
He’s only got two holes to go now but he’ll walk off 16 very happy with a two-putt par from over 60 feet. If he can get in the clubhouse as he is, that will be a mighty-fine effort and would almost certainly see him out in the final pairing tomorrow.
Ben Fleming21 July 2023 13:29
The Open 2023: McIlroy missed birdie opportunity
McIlroy -1 (12), Rahm +3 (12), Rose +6 (12)
It’s a sparkling tee shot from Rory into the 12th green from about 120 yards which comes to rest about seven feet from the hole. He’s initially over the putt but comes out of his stroke after a gust of wind blows through. That clearly puts him off as he then misses the resulting effort, pushing it out to e right.
Rahm escapes with par after a tidy chip but it’s another bogey for Rose who will need something special down the stretch if he’s to make the cut.
Ben Fleming21 July 2023 13:26
The Open 2023: Surprise names up the leaderboard
Sharma -3 (8), Stewart -4 (7), Jordan -3 (5)
Three names many might not be aware of have made a mighty fine start to their second round. We spoke about local lad, Matthew Jordan, earlier who has added to his overnight score with his second birdie of the day.
Alongside him at -3 is India’s Shubhankar Sharma who has two wins on the DP World Tour. A bogey at eight has pegged him back to after an early bogey but he’s still in a tie for sixth right now.
A shot better than those two is Scotland’s Michael Stewart who is one under for his round and -4 for the tournament.
Ben Fleming21 July 2023 13:23
The Open 2023: Nervy start for Lamprecht
The big-hitting South African amateur enjoyed a day to remember on Thursday as he ended with a share of the lead at -5. It’s not been an ideal start today, however, with a bogey at the first followed by a wild tee shot on the second which has gone way right.
Ben Fleming21 July 2023 13:19
The Open 2023: First bogey of the day for Rory
McIlroy -1 (11), Rahm +3 (11), Rose +5 (11)
McIlroy gets himself in trouble off the tee and needs some up-and-down magic to keep his par. It’s 14 feet for the par…but he can’t make it. Back to -1 for the tournament now for Rory.
Rahm has steam rising out of both ears such is the frustration the Spaniard has with his round so far, but he composes himself well to make a par to stay at +3.
Ben Fleming21 July 2023 13:15
The Open 2023: Birdie for Hatton
Homa -4 (10), Hatton E (10)
A much-needed birdie for Hatton as he makes the turn. Back to even par now as the Englishman continues to battle away in these trickier conditions.
Homa stays at -4 with a tidy par.
Ben Fleming21 July 2023 13:13