The final major of the year has begun with the running of the 152nd Open Championship. The tournament is being held at Royal Troon in Scotland, eight years after a memorable final-round duel between Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson captured the excitement of the crowds the last time it was held here.
Brian Harman returns as defending champion following a surprisingly dominant six-shot victory at Royal Liverpool last year, with the American now having the chance to become the first player since Padraig Harrington to win back-to-back editions of The Open.
World No 1 and two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler is the pre-tournament favourite. He plays his first competition since his Travelers Championship victory last month and is chasing a seventh win in 11 starts. Rory McIlroy leads the British hopes after his US Open heartbreak and insists he is ‘closer than ever’ to a fifth major title.
The last six men’s majors have all been won by Americans, with PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele and US Open victor Bryson DeChambeau also in the mix.
Follow live coverage of the 152nd Open Championship below:
The Open 2024: Latest updates
-3 Thomas; -2 Noren, Hojgaard, Rose, Henley, McNealy
Oh my. That one is going to hurt Sam Hutsby. He’s on the eighth, the postage stamp par-3, and misses the green off the tee. He can only recover to leave a bogey putt but leaves it wide of the hole.
It’s a five for the Englishman who drops back to one under.
Mike Jones18 July 2024 13:53
The Open 2024: Latest updates
-3 Thomas, Hutsby; -2 Noren, Hojgaard, Rose, Henley, McNealy
Jon Rahm has a birdie putt from the edge of the green on 15. He’s a long way out and nails his foot. Halfway to the hole it looks as though the ball is flying past but it slows up and just trickles by the hole.
Playing with him, Robert MacIntyre leaves his birdie effort short of the hole.
Mike Jones18 July 2024 13:49
The Open 2024: Latest updates
-3 Thomas, Hutsby; -2 Noren, Hojgaard, Rose, Henley, McNealy
Mike Jones18 July 2024 13:46
The Open 2024: Latest updates
-3 Thomas, Hutsby; -2 Noren, Hojgaard, Rose, Henley, McNealy
That is good. Sam Hutsby takes his share of the lead with a third birdie of the day at the seventh. He’s been remarkable consistent at the start of this round and could set a very tough score to catch if he keeps this going.
At 13, Brian Harman wobbles a birdie putt just to the left of the hole and grimacez when it fails to drop. He fancied that one.
Mike Jones18 July 2024 13:41
The Open 2024: Latest updates
-3 Thomas; -2 Noren, Hojgaard, Rose, Henley, McNealy, Hutsby; -1 Scott, Kirk, Wallace
Last year’s champion Brian Harman has pushed through the terrible weather from earlier for a round of level par after 13 holes.
Up ahead Russell Henley has three holes to go following a solid par on the 15th. He’s one shot behind leader Justin Thomas and will be very happy with his round so far.
Mike Jones18 July 2024 13:38
The Open 2024: Latest updates
-3 Thomas; -2 Noren, Hojgaard, Rose, Henley, McNealy, Hutsby; -1 Scott, Kirk, Wallace
Rory McIlroy has had a bit of a shocker. He’s five over after 11 and needs to finish off this round well. A fine chip off the side of the green on 12 leaves him with a four footer for par.
On the same hole Tyrell Hatton flicks his third shot out of the bunker and should also have a regulation par putt.
Mike Jones18 July 2024 13:35
The Open 2024: Latest updates
-3 Thomas; -2 Noren, Hojgaard, Rose, Henley, McNealy, Hutsby; -1 Scott, Kirk, Kim, Wallace
A couple of bogeys are followed by a birdie for Kim, so he’s on to -1 now.
Jason Day and Rickie Fowler are teeing off now, and the former makes a decent start to land on the fairway, while Fowler gets himself out of the rough to land on the green with his second shot.
Harman makes par again, staying at even for the day. Rahm has the chance for par on the 14th, and he makes it to stay on even too.
Kirk goes short with the birdie attempt, though he should make par to stay one shot behind.
McIlroy chips onto the green with his third shot on the 12th, but the best he can hope for is par.
Chris Wilson18 July 2024 13:34
The Open 2024: Latest updates
-3 Thomas; -2 Noren, Hojgaard, Rose, Henley, McNealy, Hutsby; -1 Scott, Kirk, Wallace
Hutsby narrowly misjudges the putt for the birdie and the joint lead, but he should make par.
McIlroy tees off on the 12th and it’s a little better, narrowly creeping onto the fairway. Rahm tees off on the 14th and it just overruns the green.
Chris Wilson18 July 2024 13:25
The Open 2024: Latest updates
-3 Thomas; -2 Noren, Hojgaard, Rose, Henley, McNealy, Hutsby; -1 Scott, Kirk, Wallace
A few more players have finished for the day, with Matt Wallace ending on -1.
Rahm does indeed bogey the 13th, so he’s one over for the day. Henley takes his second shot on the 14th from within the crowd, but he might struggle to make par here… or not. He drains the putt and stays with the leaders!
Lawrence lips out on the birdie shot on the eighth, so he stays on -1.
McIlroy has double-bogeyed the 11th, so he’s on +5 for the day, and Max Homa makes birdie on the same hole to go up to +4.
Chris Wilson18 July 2024 13:22
The Open 2024: Latest updates
-3 Thomas; -2 Noren, Hojgaard, Rose, Henley, McNealy, Kim, Hutsby; -1 Scott, Kirk, Wallace
Rahm’s third shot lands on the green, but again he’s done himself no favours. He misses the par putt, and he’ll go on to +1 at least.
DeChambeau is still on +6 as he makes his way through the 12th, and it’s better from the American as his chip lands next to the hole.
Justin Rose is speaking to Sky Sports after his opening round of 69, and he says he’s “a touch disappointed” after feeling like “there were opportunities on the front and back nine”.
“Lots of things that could have gone the other way on another day though, so overall pretty happy,” adds the Englishman.
Chris Wilson18 July 2024 13:13
