In the blue corner: LIV Golf and the Saudi-backed stoppage plan. With golfers from both camps running for the Claret jug while negotiating public spaces, it’s impossible to ignore the soap opera feel. In Rory McIlroy, the establishment has its golden boy. McIlroy may be uncomfortable with such a position – he excels in professional golf, not politics – and the R&A could never be seen to favor an Open contender, but glory for the Northern Irishman at St Andrews would have a wider meaning. McIlroy represents all that is good about his sport in the face of a model that sees hundreds of millions of guaranteed dollars thrown at players who don’t even have to worry about 36-hole cuts. As McIlroy scrambled for a birdie on the 18th hole five hours and 40 minutes after teeing off on a fiery Old Course, rapturous applause set the stage. McIlroy does not lead the Open going into day two, but his 66 matched the first-round score set in 2014. It was to win the Open at Hoylake that year. The control with which McIlroy appeared on the first day here was reminiscent of eight years ago. How the galleries wrapped it up. “It’s never easy,” McIlroy said. “There are little points in the round where it shows you where you are with everything mentally and physically. I got through all these little tests today unscathed and I’m really proud of that. So it might have looked easy, but there are certain parts of the round that are challenging.” Tiger Woods has been so supportive. The scale of physical discomfort for the 46-year-old was again clear as he fell to 78 – 6 over the mark. It remains possible – or likely – that Friday will witness Woods’ final competitive round at St Andrews. His behavior on the second day will be fascinating. LIV renegades lurk with intent. Bryson DeChambeau’s 69 owed much to a patient approach that many thought was beyond him. Talor Gooch, who gained notoriety after comparing the atmosphere at LIV tournaments to a Ryder Cup, is four under. Dustin Johnson was the last to finish with a 68. Paul Casey reached the turn at under four, but had to settle for a 71. Cameron Young finished third at the US PGA and leads the Open after day one Picture: Richard Heathcote/R&A/Getty Images As if to prove we live in great times, Lee Westwood – who rolled back the years with a 68 of his own – took a gentle swipe at another scathing critic of the Rebel Tour, Woods. “He has interests, doesn’t he?” said Westwood. “LIV players will talk about the LIV tour up, PGA players not on the LIV tour will talk about the PGA tour and stop the LIV tour. I don’t pay much attention to people’s opinions. Tigris is entitled to his opinion. I respect Tiger as a golfer. He’s one of the two best ever to play.” One questioner was particularly excited when trying to ascertain whether Ian Poulter believed that Old Tom Morris, who died in 1908, would be “turning in his grave” at the extent of golf’s civil war. “I have no idea,” said a bemused Poulter, who had just signed for a 69. Poulter’s interrogator gave the impression that he had his mind set on going to the local graveyard with shovel in hand. Old Tom, face down, would obviously have told a story. It’s hardly disrespectful to Cameron Young to point out that the Open’s first-round leader could wander the streets of St Andrews without so much as a cursory glance from golf fans. He has no reason to care about this since he’s not in a popularity contest. In his Open debut, the New Yorker hit eight birdies for a 64. “I shot a million [at the Scottish Open] last week,” Young said. “Suddenly I feel quite comfortable. It’s been a lot of work and a lot of preparation in between, but I think things can change in an instant, especially here, given how important the rebounds are and the mindset you have.” Quick guide
The 150th Open: first round leaderboard
projection Old Course, St Andrews, par 72: 64 C Young (USA). 66 R McIlroy (NI). 67 R Dinwiddie (Eng); C Smith (Austria). 68 Barclay Brown (Eng, am); T Gooch (USA); V Hovland (Nor); D Johnson (USA); B Kennedy (Aus); S Scheffler (USA); L Westwood (Eng); K Kitayama (USA). 69 B DeChambeau (USA); P Harrington (Ire); J Kim Jh (Kor); Kim Sw (Kor); T Lawrence (SA); Lee Kh (Kor); M Lee (Aus); J Niemann (Chi); J Parry (Eng); I Poulter (Eng); X Schauffele (USA); S Thegala (USA); S Vincent (Zim); D Willett (Eng.). 70 P Cantlay (USA); T Detry (Bel); E Els (SA); D Frittelli (SA); T Hatton (Eng); R Henley (USA); L Herbert (Aus); R MacIntyre (Sco). Selected others: 71 To answer (Mex); P Casey (Eng); H Matsuyama (Jpn); L Oosthuizen (SA); J Spieth (USA); C Tringale (USA). 72 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); T Fleetwood (Eng); S Burns (USA); S Lowry (Ire); P Mickelson (USA); C Morikawa (USA); K Na (USA); P Reed (USA); A Scott (Aus); J Thomas (USA); B Wiesberger (Aut). 73 J Daly (USA); T Finau (USA);B Koepka (USA); F Molinari (It); J Rahm (Sp); W Zalatoris (USA); B Horschel (USA); M Homa (USA). 75 S García (Spa); H Stenson (Swedish). 78 R Bland (Eng); S Cink (USA); T Woods (USA). 79 D Clarke (NI). 82 D Duval (USA). 83 M Calcavecchia (USA). Thanks for your response. World No 1 Scottie Scheffler remains hopeful of making it a Masters and St Andrews Open double this year after a 68 in the day’s most testing conditions. Cameron Smith posted a 67, as did Robert Dinwiddie in the dying embers of the game. Barclay Brown, the 21-year-old amateur from Sheffield, is just a stroke further back. So are Viktor Hovland, Kurt Kitayama and Brad Kennedy. Justin Rose retired before hitting a shot due to a back injury. Justin Thomas, Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa and Patrick Reed are all equal. While he’s eight off the lead, it’s McIlroy’s name that turns eyes to the leaderboard. If he finds himself involved in a weekend shootout with a LIV convert, St Andrews popcorn will be in short supply.
