Andy Sullivan gets early birdie as The Open tees off under glorious sunshine
A year later than scheduled, the 149th Open Championship got under way at Royal St George’s in glorious sunshine.
Covid-19 forced a postponement 12 months ago but when proceedings eventually began at 6.35am on the Sandwich links Andy Sullivan was first to take advantage of favourable but breezy conditions by holing a 25-foot birdie putt at the first hole.
The honour of hitting the opening tee shot went to 48-year-old Richard Bland, who became the oldest first-time winner of a European Tour event with victory at the Betfred British Masters on his 478th start.
The honour of getting The 149th Open underway goes to @blandy73 👏 #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/FTlpoYvJgW
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 15, 2021
Although the finish to his drive, which went slightly left, looked a little unsteady he was disappointed to see his 14ft birdie putt graze the edge of the hole.
Marcus Armitage, another maiden winner in June with his victory at the Porsche European Open, completed the all-English three-ball and he also had to settle for par.
Shane Lowry’s long wait to start the defence of his Open title was due to start at 9.58am in the marquee group alongside golf’s newest major winner Jon Rahm and 2010 champion Louis Oosthuizen.
In a group half an hour before him were Jordan Spieth, who won the Open in 2017, last year’s US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and South Africa’s Branden Grace.
Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy, the 2014 winner, goes out at 3.21pm with American Ryder Cup rival Patrick Reed and Australian Cameron Smith.
Latest
-
NewsNacho Elvira dedicates dramatic Cazoo Open victory to Celia Barquin Arozamena
The 2018 European Ladies’ Amateur champion was murdered later in the year on a course in Iowa.
-
NewsMinjee Lee overturns a seven-shot deficit to take Evian Championship victory
A win over South Korea’s Jeongeun Lee6 in a play-off saw the Australian secure her first major title.
-
NewsMinjee Lee overturns a seven-shot deficit to take Evian Championship victory
A win over South Korea’s Jeongeun Lee6 in a play-off saw the Australian secure her first major title.
-
NewsMatt Wallace out to show Padraig Harrington his desire to make Ryder Cup team
Wallace was overlooked for a wild card in 2018 despite winning for the third time in 15 starts.
-
NewsCollin Morikawa to reassess his goals after winning The Open at first attempt
The 24-year-old American has already won two majors.
-
NewsThe Open day four: Halfway to a career grand slam two years after turning pro
Collin Morikawa has added the Open to the US PGA, both of them won on tournament debut.
-
NewsCollin Morikawa eager to savour taste of success after debut Open triumph
The American became only the second person after Tiger Woods to win the Open and US PGA before the age of 25.
-
NewsCollin Morikawa admits magnitude of historic Open victory is ‘hard to take in’
The 24-year-old is the first player to win two different majors at their first attempt.
-
NewsThe Open day four: Collin Morikawa holds off the challenge of Jordan Spieth
The American held his nerve to create history in the 149th Open at a sun-drenched Royal St George’s.