SA's Bezuidenhout shares Open lead, Scheffler and McIlroy stay in touch

World number one Scottie Scheffler made a fine start to the Open Championship to sit three under par at a rain-swept Royal Portrush on Thursday as home favourite Rory McIlroy was roared on during a rollercoaster one-under par round.

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Former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, China's Li Haotong, Dane Jacob Skov Olesen, South Africa's Christiaan Bezuidenhout and American Harris English hold the first-round lead at four under par.

Scheffler, though, is well-placed to launch his challenge for a fourth major and a first Claret Jug despite a series of wayward tee shots.

The American hit just three fairways but still produced one of the best rounds of the day thanks to his brilliant approach play.

"When it's raining sideways, it's actually, believe it or not, not that easy to get the ball in the fairway. Thank you guys all for pointing that out," he told reporters.

Scheffler raised eyebrows with his pre-tournament comments that his is "not a fulfilling life" due to his relentless quest for more success.

He battled his way through the first 15 holes at one under thanks to birdies at the third, seventh and 10th before finding his touch with another birdie at the "Calamity Corner" 16th and nearly holing an approach for eagle at the 17th.

MCILROY STEADIES THE SHIP

McIlroy is the star attraction for the close to 280 000 spectators set to attend the four days of play at the final major of the year.

The Northern Irishman was determined to make amends for his disastrous start at Portrush six years ago when a quadruple bogey at the opening hole, on his way to a first-round 79, saw him miss the cut.

McIlroy is nine shots better off this time after day one, but was ragged off the tee to see a potentially brilliant start blown off course in the windy conditions.

After showing signs of nerves with an opening hole bogey, the Masters champion looked in the groove as birdies at the second, fifth, seventh and 10th took him to three under.

However, the world number two finally began to pay the price for a series of hooks to the left with three bogeys in four holes, including the par-five 12th, between the 11th and 14th.

The 36-year-old, who set the course record at Portrush with a 61 20 years ago, steadied the ship by picking up a shot at 17 to finish with a 70.

"I feel the support of an entire country out there, which is a wonderful position to be in, but at the same time, you don't want to let them down. So there's that little bit of added pressure," said McIlroy.

"I felt like I dealt with it really well today. Certainly dealt with it better than I did six years ago. I was just happy to get off to a good start and get myself into the tournament."

SLOW GOING

Tyrrell Hatton leads the charge to become the first English champion since Nick Faldo in 1992 at three under par, one ahead of compatriot Justin Rose who carded a bogey-free 69.

Shane Lowry, champion when the British Open returned to Portrush for the first time in 68 years in 2019, and two-time major champion Jon Rahm finished at one under.

Defending champion Xander Schauffele is one further back at even par as he seeks to refind his top form after a frustrating 2025 so far.

However, it was a day to forget for two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who shot seven over par to leave the American needing a good second round just to make the weekend.

Two-time champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland was handed the honour of getting the tournament underway with the opening tee shot at 6:35 am local time.

"The grandstand was full, the first fairway was full, the first green was full," said Harrington. "Those crowds were spectacular at that hour of the morning. It was really great."

However, the spectators had a long day to catch the action with most rounds taking over six hours.

US Open champion JJ Spaun was handed a "bad time" warning for taking too long on the 17th hole.

"Felt like we were on the golf course for about 12 hours," bemoaned Australia's Marc Leishman.

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES

67: Jacob Skov Olesen (DEN), Li Haotong (CHN), Matthew Fitzpatrick, Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA), Harris English (USA)

68: Matthew Jordan, Scottie Scheffler (USA), Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA), Tyrrell Hatton

69: Nicolai Hojgaard (DEN), Lee Westwood, Rickie Fowler (USA), Rasmus Hojgaard (DEN), Aaron Rai, Brian Harman (USA), Maverick McNealy (USA), Justin Rose, Tom Kim (KOR), Lucas Glover (USA)

70: Phil Mickelson (USA), Sam Burns (USA), Jon Rahm (ESP), Shane Lowry, John Axelsen (DEN), Zach Johnson (USA), Sergio Garcia (ESP), Angel Hidalgo (ESP), Justin Leonard (USA), Joaquin Niemann (CHI), Rory McIlroy, Tony Finau (USA)

SELECTED

71: Xander Schauffele (USA), Robert MacIntyre

72: Cameron Smith (AUS), Sepp Straka (AUT), Adam Scott (AUS), Keegan Bradley (USA), Justin Thomas (USA)

73: Jason Day (AUS), Dustin Johnson (USA), Patrick Cantlay (USA), J.J. Spaun (USA), Jordan Spieth (USA), Ludvig Aberg (SWE), Viktor Hovland (NOR), Tommy Fleetwood

74: Hideki Matsuyama (JPN)

75: Brooks Koepka (USA), Collin Morikawa (USA)

78: Bryson DeChambeau (USA)