The ecosystem is 1 up. As much as they try to keep their attention on the 150th celebration of this great championship, there is no doubt that the Open has been clouded by a broader narrative. On the red corner: the PGA and the DP World Tours.
On the blue corner: LIV Golf and its interruption plan backed by Saudi Arabia. With golfers from both courses playing for Claret Jug while exchanging public bands, it’s impossible to ignore the meaning of the soap opera.
At Rory McIlroy, the establishment has its golden boy. McIlroy may feel uncomfortable with such a position (he excels in professional golf, not politics) and one could never see R&A favoring an Open contender, but the glory for Northern Irish in St Andrews would have a broader meaning. McIlroy represents all that is good about his sport in the face of a model that sees hundreds of millions of dollars guaranteed guaranteed to players who don’t even have to worry about 36-hole cuts.
When McIlroy competed for an 18th-hole bird, five hours and 40 minutes after he started playing in a fiery Old Course, enthusiastic applause formed the backdrop. McIlroy did not lead the Open for the second day, but his 66th matched the first-round score produced in 2014. This year he was to win the Open at Hoylake. The control McIlroy showed the first day here was reminiscent of eight years ago. How the galleries glued it.
“It never feels easy,” McIlroy said. “There are small parts of the round where he shows you where you are with everything mentally and physically. Today I passed all these little tests unscathed and I’m very proud of them. So it might have seemed easy, but there are certain parts of the round that are difficult “.
Tiger Woods backed it up a lot. The scale of physical discomfort for the 46-year-old man became clear again when he fell to a 78 – six above the pair. It is still possible, or likely, that Friday will witness Woods ’last competitive round in St Andrews. His behavior on the second day will be fascinating.
The renegade LIVs are intentionally hiding. Bryson DeChambeau’s 69 owed much to a patient approach that many thought beyond him. Talor Gooch, who gained notoriety after comparing the atmosphere of LIV tournaments to a Ryder Cup, has four less. Dustin Johnson made the last to equal that 68. Paul Casey reached the turn in minus four but had to settle for 71.
Cameron Young finished third in the U.S. PGA and leads the Open after the first day Photo: Richard Heathcote / R & A / Getty Images
As if to show that we are living in extraordinary times, Lee Westwood, who went back in time with 68 of his, took a look at another critic of the rebel tour, Woods. “You have a vested interest, right?” Westwood said. “LIV players will talk about the LIV tour, PGA players who are not on the LIV tour will talk about the PGA tour and leave the LIV tour. I don’t pay too much attention to people’s opinions. Tiger he has a right to his opinion. I respect Tiger as a golfer. He’s one of the two best they’ve ever played. “
One of those who asked was especially excited when he tried to find out if Ian Poulter thought old Tom Morris, who died in 1908, would be “turning to his grave” in the aftermath of the Gulf Civil War.
“I have no idea,” said a puzzled Poulter, who had just signed for a 69. Poulter’s interrogator gave the impression that he was ready to march to the local cemetery with the shovel in his hand. Old Tom, upside down, would probably have told a story.
Cameron Young is not disrespectful to point out that the leader of the first round of the Open could walk the streets of St Andrews without even a superficial look from golf fans. He has no reason to worry about it, as he is not participating in a popularity contest. In his debut at the Open, the New Yorker beat eight birdies by a 64.
“I shot a million [at the Scottish Open] last week, “Young said.” Suddenly I’m quite comfortable. There’s been a lot of work and a lot of preparation in between, but I think things can change in an instant, especially here given how important the rebounds are and the mentality you have “.
Quick guide
The 150th Open: First round standings
Show
Old Course, St Andrews, by 72: 64 C Young (USA). 66 R McIlroy (NI). 67 R Dinwiddie (Eng); C Smith (Aus). 68 Barclay Brown (Eng, am); T Gooch (USA); V Hovland (Nor); D Johnson (USA); B Kennedy (Aus); S Scheffler (USA); L Westwood (Eng); K Kitayama (USA). 69 B DeChambeau (USA); P Harrington (Ire); J Kim Jh (Kor); Kim Sw (Kor); T Lawrence (SA); Lee Kh (Kor); M Lee (Aus); J Niemann (Chi); J Parry (English); I Poulter (Eng); X Schauffele (USA); S Theegala (USA); S Vicent (Zim); D Willett (Eng). 70 P Cantlay (USA); T Detry (Bel); E Els (SA); D Frittelli (SA); T Hatton (English); R Henley (USA); L Herbert (Aus); R MacIntyre (Sco).
Others selected: 71 To answer (Mex); P Casey (Eng); H Matsuyama (Jpn); L Oosthuizen (SA); J Spieth (USA); C Tringale (USA). 72 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); T Fleetwood (Eng); S Burns (USA); S Lowry (Ire); P Mickelson (USA); C Morikawa (USA); K Na (USA); P Reed (USA); A Scott (Aus); J Thomas (USA); B Wiesberger (Aut). 73 J Daly (USA); T Finau (USA); B Koepka (USA); F Molinari (It); J Rahm (Sp); W Zalatoris (USA); B Horschel (USA); M Homa (USA). 75 S Garcia (Spa); H Stenson (Swedish). 78 R Bland (Eng); S Cink (USA); T Woods (USA). 79 D Clarke (IN). 82 D Duval (USA). 83 M Calcavecchia (USA).
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Scottie Scheffler, the world number 1, holds out hope of producing a Masters and St Andrews Open double this year after a 68 in the toughest conditions of the day. Cameron Smith posted a 67, as did Robert Dinwiddie in the game’s dying embers. Barclay Brown, the 21-year-old Sheffield fan, is just one step behind. So are Viktor Hovland, Kurt Kitayama and Brad Kennedy.
Justin Rose retired before hitting a shot due to a back injury. Justin Thomas, Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa and Patrick Reed are all alike.
While that’s eight of the leaderboard, McIlroy’s name is what turns his eyes to the standings. In case you’re involved in a weekend shootout with a LIV convert, St Andrews popcorn will be in short supply.