The No. 1 ranked player in the world, Scottie Scheffler, showcased his incredible skills during the final three holes of his opening round, finding his best form just when it counted the most. On the par-3 16th hole, Scheffler hit a remarkable tee shot, landing just over 3 feet from the hole. He continued his impressive performance by nearly holing his approach shot from 110 yards out on the 17th hole, ultimately securing birdies on both holes. This strong finish allowed him to jump up the leader board, ending the day at 3-under-par and just one shot back from the lead.
Despite his strong finish, Scheffler didn't play his best golf throughout the round. According to DataGolf, a statistical analysis platform, he lost shots off the tee, an area where he has historically excelled, leading the PGA Tour in that category for the 2025 season. However, his proficiency showed in his approach shots to the green, where he gained four shots over the field, as well as his putting, where he gained two shots. These strengths allowed him to maintain a high position on the leader board.
At the conclusion of the first round, Jacob Skov Olesen and Li Haotong found themselves tied for the lead, both posting impressive scores of 4-under-par 67. Olesen, who is making only his second major appearance, previously competed in the Open last year, finishing tied for 60th. The 26-year-old Dane won The Amateur Championship last year in Ireland and turned professional in November, making his mark on the European Tour. During his round, Olesen made two birdies and an eagle on the back nine, taking a temporary lead at -5 before bogeying the 18th hole.
Li Haotong, a 29-year-old from China, is no stranger to performing well in major tournaments. Notably, he was the 36-hole leader at the 2020 PGA Championship and achieved his best finish in a major at the 2017 Open Championship, where he finished third. With four professional wins under his belt, including a victory at the Qatar Masters this year, Li's strong performance in the opening round is a welcome change after he missed the cut at the Scottish Open last week.
Joining Olesen and Li at the top of the leader board is former U.S. Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick, who showcased his talent by chipping in from a challenging position off the 16th hole, also known as Calamity Corner. As of 7 a.m., seven of the ten golfers sitting at 2-under-par or better hailed from European countries, demonstrating the continent's dominance in this round.
Jacob Skov Olesen's impressive round included an eagle on the 12th hole and a birdie chip-in on the 15th, allowing him to secure the lead. Fellow Dane Niccolai Hojgaard finished at 2-under-par, bouncing back from a double bogey on the 11th with consecutive birdies on the 12th and 13th. Notable English players like Matthew Jordan, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Lee Westwood also performed well, all sitting at 2-under-par or better, along with Shane Lowry and Norway's Kristoffer Reitan.
As the tournament progressed, weather conditions became a topic of discussion. Phil Mickelson, at 55, and Lee Westwood, at 52, both had commendable rounds, with Mickelson briefly taking the solo lead at 2-under-par before falling back due to two bogeys. Westwood, a former world No. 1, had a stellar round at -4 but has yet to secure a major victory. Notably, he made it to the weekend in each of his last seven appearances at the Open.
During the first two rounds of The Open, players often debate whether it is better to have early tee times for round one and late for round two, or the opposite. Weather plays a significant role in this strategy. Rain affected early rounds, prompting Mickelson to don a full rain suit, while conditions improved later, allowing golfers like Olesen to capitalize on their tee times.
As the tournament unfolds, it will be intriguing to see how the leaderboard shifts with the changing weather and player performances. Stay tuned for more updates as the competition intensifies.
