Debutant Jackson Suber is the surprise leader at the Open Championships as he opened with a 5-under 65 that included an eagle on No. 17.
The 26-year-old American, one of the 44 players making their Open Championship debut, is playing in only his third major. He has no Tour title to his name and is now the first player to hold the 18-hole lead in his debut since Dan Brown in 2024.
Second-year TOUR member has three top-10 finishes in 15 starts this season. He made a tough par save on the new par-3 15th and followed , where the slopes fall off severely on both sides. He followed with a 6-foot birdie on the 16th, and then choked up on a 4-iron from 233 yards and hit it to 6 feet for eagle.
While it is still early days, Suber will be hoping to emulate Matt Fitzpatrick, who was last player to earn first PGA TOUR win at a major, ironically at the U.S. Open four years ago.
He lead the duo of Im Sungjae and Dan Brown by one stroke. Nine players are at 67 and include four tournament debutants – Alex Smalley, Ryan Gerard. M.J. Daffue and Pierceson Cody.
World No. 4 Cameron Young is also at four under while world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is tied-13th with an opening-round 68. Scheffler is Bidding to become the first player to successfully defend at The Open since Padraig Harrington in 2008
2021 winner Collin Morikawa also recorded a 68 while reigning FedEx champion Tommy Fleetwood is a further streoke behind.
Winner of last week’s Genesis Scottish Open, Tom Kim sits five-back. But six-time major champion Rory McIIroy (T85/+2) posted a poor 72.
