Debutant Jackson Suber made a dream start to the 2026 British Open, carding a brilliant five-under-par 65 to take the first-round lead at Royal Birkdale.
The American, playing in his first Open Championship and visiting Europe for only the fifth day of his life, produced a memorable performance that included six birdies and an eagle on the par-five 17th after a superb approach shot from 230 yards.
England's Dan Brown and South Korea's Im Sung-jae had earlier posted rounds of 66, while defending champion and world number one Scottie Scheffler opened with a 68. Scheffler started strongly with four birdies in his first six holes before finishing two under par.
Former US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau also impressed with a three-under 67, despite late bogeys on the 14th and 18th holes.
World number two Rory McIlroy struggled to find his rhythm and finished with an even-par 72, while England's Tommy Fleetwood remained in contention after a 69.
The dry, fast-running conditions at Royal Birkdale created ideal scoring opportunities, producing one of the lowest opening rounds seen at the course. Suber's 65 is the second-lowest opening round in Open Championship history at Royal Birkdale, behind only Craig Stadler's 64 in 1983.
Keywords: British Open 2026, Open Championship, Jackson Suber, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Royal Birkdale, golf news, Open Championship leaderboard, sports news
