British Open 2025: Scheffler One Shot Off Lead After Dramatic Opening Round at Royal Portrush
Portrush, Northern Ireland — The first round of the 2025 Open Championship delivered a thrilling start at Royal Portrush, with five players tied atop the leaderboard at 4-under par. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler sits just one stroke back after a resilient 3-under 68, while fan favorite Rory McIlroy overcame early struggles to finish within striking distance 110.
Leaders Emerge in Challenging Conditions
A mix of sunshine, rain, and gusty winds tested the field, but Matt Fitzpatrick (England), Jacob Skov Olesen (Denmark), Haotong Li (China), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (South Africa), and Harris English (USA) mastered the elements to share the lead at 67. Fitzpatrick’s highlight came at the infamous "Calamity Corner" (16th hole), where he chipped in for birdie—a moment that electrified the morning wave 310.
Scheffler, despite hitting only three fairways, relied on his trademark iron play to stay in contention. A 4-iron to 3 feet for birdie on the 16th capped his strong finish. "I felt like I drove it better than the stats show," he said, shrugging off criticism of his accuracy off the tee 1012.
McIlroy’s Redemption Arc
Six years after a disastrous start at Portrush in 2019, McIlroy opened with a steadier 1-under 70. Though he hit just two fairways—his fewest in an Open round—the Northern Irishman rallied with key birdies, including a 12-footer at the 17th. "To shoot under par was a good effort," he admitted, acknowledging the vocal home crowd’s support 35.
Notable Struggles and Surprises
- Bryson DeChambeau posted a 7-over 78, his worst major round, citing struggles with links golf 310.
- Justin Rose (69) and Lee Westwood (69) defied age with bogey-free rounds, while 52-year-old Padraig Harrington birdied his first hole but faded to 74 510.
- Sadom Kaewkanjana, an ordained Buddhist monk, carded a 68, adding to the leaderboard’s eclectic stories 3.
Round 2 Preview
Friday’s tee times feature marquee pairings, including McIlroy with Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Thomas (10:09 BST), while Scheffler joins Shane Lowry and Collin Morikawa in the afternoon 512. With tougher conditions forecast, patience will be key—a lesson Harris English emphasized after his 67: "You’ve got to have a lot of waits on drivable holes and par-5s" 12.
Key Stat: This marks the largest first-round tie at The Open since 1938, when six players shared the lead 10.
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