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We spent all Thursday waiting for a shower of gold dust on the 147th Open Championship. Finally, Rory McIlroy stays on the hunt, three times in the head. When two under par after only four holes, Tiger Woods seemed sure to deliver. At three under and only two of the lead, defending champion Jordan Spieth has provided blue chip hope. Justin Thomas reveled in the passage from Carnasty to Carfasty. But what the Open Championship gives, he is looking forward to win; especially here.
Although it was clearly not for ages, it was the first round of the underdog. While the gallery's expectations surrounded what the big names could do, the small lights used their clubs to make a point en masse. At the end of the match, the top four names had an average world ranking of 163. Kevin Kisner, with a five-under-par 66 record, took the lead of Erik van Rooyen, Tony Finau and Zach Lombard. The 68s of the day belonged to Ryan Moore, Brendon Steele and Brandon Stone. It is hardly disrespectful to predict uncomfortable conversations in the upper echelons of the R & A, if the ranking kept that complexion on the next 54 holes.
Woods, who had arrived at the Open with a neck injury, played his last six out of two, thus delivering a level-par 71 that had promised so much more. Spieth appeared on a mission to prove that the toughest piece of golf was available here. Thomas was twice above average for his last seven games, his 69 was not a disaster, but an antidote to the previous excitement as he was moving within Kisner's reach. As big names wavered on the charred fairways, Kisner paced up and down her typical, low-key style. If the 34-year-old native of South Carolina appears as the last great champion of the United States, maybe Europe would also wield a white flag of the Ryder Cup. Kisner was part of a delegation from the US team that was heading to the Ryder Cup on the outskirts of Paris last weekend, with recognition in mind.
A barely credible Kisner 66 first-round statistic includes only 22 putts. He headed to the driving range at the end of the media tasks, undoubtedly safe in the form with the flat stick does not have a tendency to linger. "I missed every putt on the right the last time I played on the PGA Tour," said Kisner.
"I came here Monday and I worked a lot on my speed, which is always the hardest for us to get used to here, I had the impression that the green n & # 39; 39 were not as slow as in the past because the wind was not up yet.The transition was not as important. "
If a Kisner alliance with the Claret Jug remains a hit long – it's blunt truth, not a criticism – it has at least experience of prestige brushes with fame. Kisner lost in a playoff match at the 2015 Players' Championship and played in the US PGA Championship last year. So what did both of them teach him? "That everyone is really good at golf," he replied with a broad smile. Danny Willett was recovering from the slump with a 69. The Yorkshireman could hardly be discouraged to bogeys on each of his last two holes, this was the lamentable state of his game for a long time after the Masters win of 2016. Willett has since encountered back and shoulder problems, related to the loss of form. "Pitch black," he says when asked how dark the weather is.
"It was not good for a moment, but it's a situation in which I fought, I swayed it a bit and the body was really uncooperative. perspective is good but you are still annoyed.It's really nice to have stayed here after pulling 69 without stress. "
The McIlroy concept hidden in plain sight seems slightly ridiculous given its status However, in the context of 69 McIlroy's day – impressive, so banal – may have been significant.The decision of the Northern Irishman to attack Carnoustie has been confirmed, while as his assertion that he was "the worst I would pass the ball this week" jumped.
For all his missed chances, McIlroy suggested an element of putting the insurance as was missed at in recent weeks. "It was huge," he said. have the bold approach reflected that of McIlroy, returned an identical score. Brooks Koepka had some serious problems after a first nine out of 41, but responded in a manner worthy of his US Open champion status. The inner half of Koepka took only 31 shots.
There were high losses on Thursday. Patrick Reed, the holder of the Green Jacket, signed for a 75. Spieth turned his head among his teammates before playing the four closing holes in the same number on the par. Spieth's 72 was matched by his playing partner, Justin Rose, who took the verbal lens of a photographer after being distracted by a short putt – duly missed – on the 6th. The incident seemed to affect Rose's composure.
Dustin Johnson, the world's No. 1, stumbled to a 76. He took a triple-bogey seven at the end. The form and mood of Sergio García have been strangely grim for most of 2018; The Spaniard would hardly have been encouraged by a 75, although he had signed with a birdie at 18.
Phil Mickelson was probably happy to be back in the main ropes after the epic sound who followed his aberration in the United States. Open. With this public relations disaster in mind, it may not have been a shock that he turned on the charm despite a 73 that was most noticeable for a double bogey at the par-three 16th. "The pines were where I thought they would be," said the 2013 champion. "The course played as I thought it is." It's a very fun, fair and challenging test. is good. "
Those looking for another episode of golf-meets-hockey seem destined to be disappointed. Whisper it, but it was a palpable Thursday emotion.
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