Harris English is among a fascinating group of leaders at the Open after a marathon first day that stretched into darkness. English, seeking to become the first Englishman to win the Open since 1992, is at four under par alongside Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Matt Fitzpatrick, Li Haotong and Jacob Skov Olesen. He arrived without his caddie Eric Larson, who was denied travel from the US due to a drug conviction from three decades ago.
The longest day in Open history saw rounds stretch to six hours due to a 156-man field and penal rough. Rory McIlroy battled his game to a 70, leaving him three off the lead, while Scottie Scheffler lurks one adrift despite ranking 150th in driving accuracy. Scheffler noted the difficulty of hitting fairways in sideways rain.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout’s remarkable tale emerged: he swallowed rat poison as a two-year-old, later used beta blockers for a stammer related to the incident, leading to a failed doping test and a reduced ban. Sadom Kaewkanjana, an ordained monk, is one back and when asked about dedicating himself to Buddhism replied, “My goal is to play in the Masters.”
Lee Westwood rolled back the years with a 69, and Shane Lowry beamed after his 70. Tommy Fleetwood’s ball finished in footprints in a bunker, criticising the R&A’s new caddie raking policy. Bryson DeChambeau whiffed from knee-high rough. Leaderboard congestion promises a thrilling weekend.
