Open Championship leader Kevin Kisner nearly quit game 5 years ago

Kevin Kisner begins Open Championship with five-under 66 to take a one-shot lead after the first round.

Kevin Kisner nearly quit golf five years ago. Now he finds himself as the overnight leader at the Open Championship.

The 34-year-old Kisner shot a 5-under 66 in the first round at Carnoustie to take a one-shot lead over Tony Finau, Erik van Rooyen and Zander Lombard.

Kisner got off to a slow start, playing his first five holes in 1-over. But at the par-5 sixth, “Hogan’s Alley,” he holed a 40-foot eagle putt that jumpstarted his round. He made another 35-footer for birdie at the par-3 eighth, and added three straight birdies on the back nine.

The South Carolina native has never finished better than 54th at the Open Championship and he admitted it has taken him some time to get used to playing links golf.

"“I think getting accustomed to links golf is something you have to do for where we come from. It’s taken me a few years to understand that,” he said after the round. “You’ve got to just be really good with your long putting and your long shots around the green, in my opinion.”"

Kisner didn’t exactly bring his best form to Carnoustie. After losing to Bubba Watson in the finals of the WGC-Match Play in March, he hasn’t been better than 52nd in his last six tournaments. In his last start, at the Greenbrier two weeks ago, he tied for 55th and realized his game needed work.

"“I putted so badly at the Greenbrier, and I just really worked hard at it. So I came here Monday and worked really hard on my speed, which is always the hardest thing for us to get accustomed to here,” he said.“I felt like the greens were not as slow as we’ve had in the past because the wind hadn’t been up yet. The transition wasn’t as big a deal. And the ball started coming off on the line, and when I’m doing that, I feel like I can hole them all.” He needed just 22 putts Thursday, tying his career-best for a round."

Kisner struggled to find his place on the PGA Tour after leading Georgia to the 2005 NCAA Championship. In 2013 he was so frustrated by his swing he felt like quitting. But he decided to stick it out.

In his breakthrough year on tour, 2015, he became the first player to lose three playoffs in a season without a win. He finally got his first PGA title at the RSM Classic in November 2015.

Tiger Woods began his first Open Championship in three years with an even-par 71. He was 2-under after his first four holes, but struggled on the last nine with three bogeys. Still, Woods takes nothing but positives from his round, realizing he could have easily scored better.

"“I felt like I could shoot something under par today, it would be good. I birdied one and birdied three, and I was right there,” he said. “I had an 8-iron to six and looking like I could really do something here. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite turn out that way, but this afternoon wave, I was one of the lower rounds.”"

Woods brushed off any concerns about his neck after he was spotted with black sports tape during the round.

"“Just helping me support my neck a little bit. Makes me feel a little bit more comfortable. Everyone acts like this is the first time I’ve been bandaged up. I’ve been doing this for years…just this time it’s actually visibile.”"

Kisner is five shots ahead of Woods, but history is not on his side. The first-round leader has never won in the previous seven Opens played at Carnoustie.

If he wants to overcome that history, however, he has good company. Kisner is sharing a house this week with Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Zach Johnson, Jason Dufner, Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler.

In that group all but Kisner and Fowler have won a major championship. But Kisner believes he has what it takes to have the same success his friends have had.

"“If you don’t believe in yourself out here, you’re going to get run over pretty quickly,” he said."

Next: Hole-by-hole with Tiger in Round 1

Kisner bet on himself back in 2013. He is now 54 holes away from cashing in.