The weather did everything but behave on Thursday, and The Open Championship responded in kind with a first round that was every bit as unpredictable. Rain showers, bursts of sunshine, a persistent breeze, and the occasional gust shaped the day—and by sunset, the 153rd Open had produced its most crowded leaderboard in nearly nine decades.
Five players from five different countries finished atop the board at 4-under-par 67: former U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick of England, Harris English of the United States, Li Haotong of China, Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa, and Denmark’s Jacob Skov Olesen, the 2024 Amateur champion. Not since 1938 had The Open seen so many share the lead after Round 1.
The day began with a familiar face and a familiar story. Sunlight streaked through low clouds as Padraig Harrington, the 53-year-old two-time Open champion, struck the opening shot—a perfectly flighted 3-iron into the wind. Harrington delighted the gallery with a birdie, though his round eventually unraveled into a 74.
The final group trudged up the 18th nearly 16 hours later, as daylight faded on one of the longest, slowest, and most capricious days in Open history. At times, rounds stretched to nearly six hours as players battled swirling conditions and frequent weather changes that forced them into sweaters, rain suits, and at moments, short sleeves.
The storylines were as varied as the weather. Fitzpatrick, who found himself at a low point earlier this year at THE PLAYERS Championship, showcased his rejuvenated all-around game, fresh off a tie for fourth at the Genesis Scottish Open. His highlight came at the infamous “Calamity Corner” par-3 16th, where he chipped in from well below the green—landing the ball directly into the cup.
English had to overcome more than the wind and rain. His longtime caddie was barred from entering the U.K. due to a prison sentence served two decades ago, forcing English to call on his short-game coach to carry the bag. It hardly mattered: he made seven birdies to share the lead.
Li Haotong (67) and Justin Rose (69) were the only players to keep bogeys off the card, Li’s steadiness highlighted by a clutch 10-foot par save on the 18th. For Olesen, it was a late stumble—a bogey at the last—that kept him from seizing the outright lead, though reaching 5-under earlier in the round was a milestone no one else touched until English matched it.
The afternoon brought its own drama, as South Africa’s Bezuidenhout played through the toughest weather of the day to join the leaders at 67. The 30-year-old relied on deft scrambling and steady iron play, underscoring how much patience Portrush demands.
Just a shot back at 68 sat Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, who continued his streak of top-10 finishes that stretches back four months and includes another major title among three victories. Scheffler only hit three fairways all day but still found ways to score, including a laser 4-iron to three feet on the 16th that set up a birdie and sparked a strong closing stretch.
Rory McIlroy, cheered on by thousands of Northern Irish fans, stumbled with three bogeys in four holes on the back nine but recovered with a crucial birdie on the 17th to card a 70—still three shots better than his nightmare opening round in 2019. Shane Lowry, the last Open champion at Portrush, matched McIlroy’s 70 despite having the worst of the day’s weather.
The elder statesmen added to the story: 44-year-old Justin Rose and 52-year-old Lee Westwood both signed for 69s, as did former Open champion Brian Harman and Lucas Glover, who briefly shared the lead before bogeys on the back nine.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele posted an even-par 71, mixing moments of brilliance with costly mistakes, while Harrington’s bright start faded into a 74.
In the end, the biggest star might have been the weather itself. Sweaters turned to rain suits, which turned to short sleeves, often all within a single hole—a portrait of links golf at its most authentic. And as darkness fell on Royal Portrush, the tournament remained perfectly poised, with five tied for the lead and more than 30 players under par.
With three rounds still to play and more fickle weather in the forecast, the only certainty at this Open is more uncertainty to come.
