They say you can’t win the Open Championship on Thursday, but you sure can win a spot in this column.
Here’s an assortment of who won (and lost) at Royal Birkdale on Day 1.
WINNER: Matthew from England
That would be Matthew Baldwin, who is from Southport, has been a member at Royal Birkdale for 23 years and hit the opening tee shot of Thursday’s first round. He shot a respectable two-over 72, but that moment will stand out:
“It was an incredible feeling. It was terrifying. It was overwhelming. But it’s something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
LOSER: Matthew from England
That would be Matthew Fitzpatrick, who entered the week as red-hot World No. 3 and arguably the trendiest pick in the field but played a fairly blah opening round of two-over 72.
WINNER: Matthew from England
That would be Matthew Wallace, a talented Englishman in his mid-30s who has shockingly never finished better than T40 at the Open. After his first-round 69, he’s in a good position to improve on that number this week.
LOSER: Matthew from England
That would be Matthew Jordan, who has become an increasingly popular Open sleeper pick after back-to-back top-10s in 2023 and 2024 but shot seven over on his front nine en route to 77 on Thursday.
WINNER: Matthew from England
That would be Matthew Southgate, who has enlisted ex-Matt Fitzpatrick caddie Billy Foster for this week’s work and made three late birdies en route to an opening 69.
WINNER: Bryson DeChambeau’s strategy
Earlier this week, Nick Faldo lit up Bryson DeChambeau’s lack of strategic approach to links golf. This was fun because, in my opinion, golf should have as many former major champs popping off about current players as possible, facts be damned.
In this case, though, it was probably an outdated critique. DeChambeau managed his way around St. Andrews quite well en route to T8 in 2022 and bounced back in a big way last year at Royal Portrush, where he shot 78 in the opening round but played great the rest of the way to finish T10. He also won at Pinehurst, which demonstrated a mixture of power and finesse.
I’m not saying DeChambeau is the most well-rounded player in the world, nor that he has the best game management. But dismiss him at your own peril. His opening three-under 67 was clinical.
LOSER: Justin from England
One of the biggest storylines entering this week was Justin Rose‘s return to Birkdale, where he burst onto the world stage nearly three decades ago. Things got off to a nice start when he birdied the first. Unfortunately for Rose — who has been battling a neck injury — that was as good as it got. He scattered six bogeys and a double throughout the rest of the round and opened with a five-over 75; it’ll be an uphill battle for him to make Friday’s cut.
WINNER: Tommy from England
The biggest storyline entering the week was Tommy Fleetwood — whose return home combined with his excellent form and his best-player-without-a-major status left him in the cool but pressure-packed situation of everybody in the golf world rooting for his success. Things didn’t look great when Fleetwood bogeyed 10 and 12 to slip over par for his round. They look much better after he birdied 15 and 17 coming home. At one under par, he’s just where he needs to be.
LOSER: Joaquin Niemann’s birdie-free day
Entering this year, Joaquin Niemann’s major record was disappointing relative to his talent, and when he missed the Masters, it seemed fair to ask whether a window was closing. It was huge, then, when he bounced back with strong showings at the PGA (T18) and the U.S. Open (T7, despite an 11). Thursday echoed past disappointments; Niemann opened with a 12-par, six-bogey, zero-birdie 76, arguably the highest score from one of the favorites. But perhaps he can make another charge as he did at Shinnecock.
WINNER: Jackson Suber’s first trip to Europe
He’s never played links golf over here because he’s never been over here, but Jackson Suber’s opening-round five-under 65 makes him the first-round leader. Even better: he made it through his first press conference without saying anything that’ll make tabloid headlines. So far.
LOSER(S): This year’s major champs
What do Rory McIlroy, Aaron Rai and Wyndham Clark have in common? Two things. They’ve each won major championships in 2026. And they’re each over par after Thursday’s opening round. McIlroy (72), Rai (71) and Clark (73) have work to do.
WINNER: Brown
That would be the color brown and the golfer Dan Brown. Birkdale’s crispy, baked-out fairways look great, play great and deliver the glorious firm, fast links golf we crave this time of year.
As for Brown? His biggest concern on Thursday was making sure he extinguished his cigarettes on those baked-out fairways.
That ensured his golf game was the only thing on fire; he birdied seven of his last 11 holes en route to a four-under 66.
LOSER: 18th-hole victims
Alex Smalley arrived at No. 18 at five under par, in the solo lead. He ended up hitting two off the tee and made double bogey. Xander Schauffele arrived at No. 18 at one under par, squarely in the mix. He found a fairway bunker despite hitting iron off the tee; he walked off with double bogey, too, and an over-par round instead. They were hardly the only ones; No. 18 played about a third of a shot over par on Thursday, among the toughest holes on the course. That could be a sign of things to come on Sunday; No. 17 is a gettable par-5, but No. 18 is a gnarly par-4. That should make for plenty of drama coming home.
WINNER: Everybody who’s still in it
Several pre-tournament favorites put themselves in an excellent position with rounds in the 60s. That includes World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (68), top Scot Robert MacIntyre (67), Players champ Cameron Young (67), 2021 Open Champ Collin Morikawa (68), ever-dangerous Jon Rahm (69), mercurial Tyrrell Hatton (69), red-hot Si Woo Kim (68), Fleetwood (69) and more.
Lot of golf left, as they say.
Dylan Dethier welcomes your comments at dylan_dethier@golf.com.
