Hot and Cold on Day One at The Open

Who's blazing it up at Birkdale and who's walking on thin ice...

HOT

Jordan Spieth

Any doubts that the Spiv had after seeing Spieth on the practice green have been remedied as Spieth produced a putting masterclass on the greens of Royal Birkdale. A blemish free round of 65 has shown that Spieth is going to be a contender. 

Brooks Koepka

Koepka has proved that greens in regulation are over rated. He only hit 50% of the GIR yet managed to match Spieth in terms of the score. The U.S Open Champion is looking hot around Royal Birkdale. 

Matt Kuchar 

Kuchar destroyed the front nine at Royal Birkdale and looked so hot that he could have done the same on the back nine. However, the course cooled him down and showed that even a player on a hot streak can still be brought back down to earth. Made the most of his opportunities and showed that this could be his year. 

Lukewarm

Jason Day 

It was a mixed bag from the former world number one. Four birdies and three bogeys mean that the Australian was off the pace throughout the day. A birdie on the last hole got him to one under par. 

Rickie Fowler

The back nine proved to hurt Fowler. Three bogeys and one birdie saw him finish on even par for the day. He failed to take advantage of the 17th which was a good birdie chance but left it with a par. Improvement is needed if he is to catch the leaders. 

Justin Rose

Rose started well here at Royal Birkdale and was two under par for the first five holes. As with Fowler, it was the back nine that caught Rose out. Four bogeys on the return home left the Englishman at one over par. Not bad but not great. 

COLD

Rory McIlroy

You have to feel for poor Rory at the moment as he entered Royal Birkdale on the back of three consecutive cuts. It showed as his front nine was a complete horror show. A fantastic finish, three under for the last three, but he still finished over par for the day.

Tommy Fleetwood

The Southport native failed to get going with anything today. Four bogeys and a double bogey left the home favourite struggling to take away anything positive from his round. The expectation has been well and truly quashed. 

Louis Oosthuizen

It was a struggle all day for the former Champion as he limped home with an eight over par. Only a birdie on the 11th represented his only moment of joy. Apart from that, it was a nightmare for the South African with four bogeys, a double bogey and a triple bogey on the 15th. What a shocker. 

With the weather due for a change tomorrow this Open Championship is still wide open for anyone to grab. Who can handle the conditions best? I guess we will have to wait and see. 

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