British Open 2017: Video highlights from Round 1 of The Open Championship
By John Buhler
Round 1 of the 2017 British Open is in the books at Royal Birkdale. Here are all the highlights from the opening round on Thursday at The Open Championship.
It’s been a long, but exciting day at the Royal Birkdale Golf Course in Southport, England. Round 1 of the 2017 British Open has concluded and a handful of Americans are atop the leaderboard at The 146th Open Championship.
Americans Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka and Matt Kuchar lead through 18 holes at five under par. After struggling in The Masters Tournament and the U.S. Open, Spieth is coming off a win at the Travelers Championship and very much in the mix for his third major championship.
Koepka won the last major tournament by winning the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills in Wisconsin. Since Erin Hills has the feel of a traditional links course one would see in The Open Championship, it shouldn’t be any surprise to see him atop the leaderboard with how well he’s played recently.
Kuchar has been a popular golfer on the PGA Tour since 2000, but remains one of the best in the game today to have not won a major tournament to date. His best finish in a major as a professional was third place at the 2012 Masters Tournament.
Here are all the highlights from Round 1 of the 2017 British Open at Royal Birkdale.
And we're off...#TheOpen pic.twitter.com/VymiAUXEYH
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
Two former Open champions, Stewart Cink and Sandy Lyle, get their first round underway #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/HygSbYxhf4
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
First birdie of #TheOpen holed by @ryanmoorepga pic.twitter.com/Vvbldd0Izn
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
Great shot! @wangjeunghun chips in for a birdie at the third #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/VeWSGx7HI6
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
New leader. @ianjamespoulter holes a long one to get to -2. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/bvLBia3XZf
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
And that is how you save par - Phachara Khongwatmai at the 12th. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/PwQtiokNoc
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
2016 Champion Golfer of the Year @henrikstenson gets his defence underway. #TheOpen watch live post/LiveCoverage pic.twitter.com/NYqtvuworr
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
Two birdies in three holes for @mattfitz94 to get to level par. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/x1Zm72G4ix
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
Great shot! First eagle of the day holed by @stu_manley. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/YSIAqDTtyn
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
Second birdie of the day for @justinthomas34 going well at -1. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/GToDgI8rAI
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
English amateur Alfie Plant drains a huge putt for birdie. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/EgNid1q7AD
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
Oh so close...but a fantastic recovery from @jordanspieth. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/kbKVdz34GL
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
. @ianjamespoulter is the clubhouse leader on -3. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/RJFzniriPW
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
Carrying on from where he left off at the US Open @bkoepka goes in to a share of the lead. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/N4u0hMaIkY
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
First BEEEEEF of the day @beefgolf #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/U7yE4ApxD0
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
Nice putt. @thomas_pieters holes an eagle putt at the 17th. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/Po0loGGJAv
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
Great start! @hoffman_charley holes an eagle on the first. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/mXGgIvUwYb
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
A bogey free round for the new clubhouse leader @jordanspieth. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/Qc3ik002Gl
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
Great work! @bkoepka holes a bunker shot to move in to a share of the lead. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/cv8UGVpRFD
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
Kuuuch! Matt Kuchar drains a putt for his third birdie in a row to move to -4. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/lzaVdspTOd
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/TheOpen/status/888040698083147776
Paul Casey and Charl Schwartzel are a stroke back of the American leaders through 18 holes at five under par. Several golfers including Ian Poulter and Charley Hoffman are tied for sixth two strokes back of Spieth, Koepka and Kuchar at three under par.
Next: 5 best moments in British Open history
Seeing Spieth play this well in an opening round could be a sign of great things to come. Koepka may just win back-to-back tournaments for all we know. Could a guy like Hoffman or Schwartzel add a major to their resume after solid starts to the 2017 PGA season?