R&A : the Open Championship Tee Times Leaderboard
Jacob Skov Olesen continued his love affair with the island of Ireland as he fired a 67 to sit in a five-way tie for the lead after the first round of The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club.
Olesen became Denmark’s first winner of the prestigious Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin Golf Club in nearby County Donegal last summer and has since made encouraging strides after turning professional upon earning his DP World Tour card at Qualifying School in November.
Having come through Final Qualifying at Burnham & Barrow at the start of the month to earn his return to The Open, Olesen gave the locals a reminder of his abilities as he carded an eagle and four birdies.
Things could have been even better for the 26-year-old, who briefly reached -5 to take the outright lead before surrendering a bogey on the last.
That meant he had to settle for a share of the lead on -4 with China’s Haotong Li, Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick, South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout and American Harris English.
World Number One Scottie Scheffler, English pair Matthew Jordan and Tyrrell Hatton and Thailand's Sadom Kaewkanjana sit a shot further back in a tie for sixth.
After making the turn in one under courtesy of birdies at the first and seventh and a bogey on the eighth, Olesen picked up another shot at the tenth, holed a 40-foot eagle putt on the 12th and chipped in for birdie at the 15th but could not save par on the 18th.
Reflecting on last year's experience of winning nearby, Olesen said: "We flew into Dublin actually both times.
"It's obviously a different setting and different everything, but obviously good memories from this island over here."
He said: "I just felt like I did everything well. Just drove it well, approach play was good, and chipped and putted well. It was just an all around good day.
Fitzpatrick carded the lowest opening round of his Major career, mixing an eagle with three birdies and a bogey to sign for a -3 67.
Afternoon starter Bezuidenhout turned in 33 courtesy of a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth before bouncing back from a bogey on the 11th with an eagle at the 12th to join the lead.
After narrowly missing his birdie try at the last and the chance to lead on his own, Bezuidenhout said: "Always great to get off to a good start in a Major and hopefully I can continue the good play over the next few days."
English was another who briefly got to during his opening round, only for a bogey on the 14th to drop him back to -4
Home favourite Rory McIlroy who only hit 2 fairways, made a battling -1 70 to sit three shots off the lead.
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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