23 July, 2017
Spieth, one of three joint leaders overnight on five-under, had dropped back to -4 at the turn on a wet and miserable afternoon at Royal Birkdale.
Here's a look at some of Spieth's highlights from the first round.
Spieth is now listed as the big 3/2 favorite to win his first Open Championship and third career major title, according to the Westgate LV Superbook. Kuchar, playing in the same final group, shot a 66.
After a attractive day that made for flawless scoring conditions, some weather is moving into the British Open.
More than half the field broke par. Spieth was 9 under through 13, while Kuchar was 7 under, three ahead of the nearest contender, Grace. The runner-up in 2008, the last time the Open was at Birkdale, will play in the penultimate group with US Open victor Brooks Koepka. But he hasn't won a major since the 2015 U.S. Open.
Midway through the third round, Jordan Spieth still has the same two-shot lead he began the day with.
But a bogey on 16 dropped him back to six under and it was there where he remained with two pars on the remaining holes. Still, there will understandably be those taking cover by backing the likes of Matt Kuchar and Brooks Koepka, or simply laying Spieth. Displaying a fantastic short game whenever he seemed ready to get in trouble, Spieth didn't make a bogey in the first round of the Open.
Kuchar mixed four bogeys with three birdies to keep the morning challengers at bay.
Koepka couldn't make any later inroads as the rain continued to fall leaving Spieth once more in pole position. The hole played to a 4.7 average, with 19 double bogeys or worse.
This year marks the 146th edition of golf's Open Championship, better known as the British Open or even just the Open.
McIlroy had a 69, rarely a bad score in the third round of a major. Coming off three missed cuts in his last four events, he was 5 over through six holes when his caddie gave him a pep talk.
Matt Kuchar moved into a tie for the lead in the British Open - but only for the briefest of moments.
Jordan Spieth has been saying it for a long time.
His tee-shot found light rough and his second flew 45 feet beyond the pin, but a marvellous putt to within three feet set up the finish to rewrite the record books. This low scoring day could've made Spieth wilt as competitors charged up at him, but he showed no flinch. "Don't know what else to say". Their sterling efforts on the opening day at Royal Birkdale definitely spells danger for their rivals. Hideki Matsuyama and Branden Grace, tipped with just the six places, unfortunately, are now sharing fifth. First came a 65 from Shaun Norris, the South African playing with a marker, and it soon became clear that more low numbers would follow.
Alex Noren has birdied the first hole at Royal Birkdale in the British Open.
He arrived on the tee in a buoyant mood after eventually firing an opening round of 71, making four birdies on his back nine, and he took his good form into round two.
"Anytime you're in the last group on a weekend in the major.you get nervous", he said. "Unfortunately it's the first cut I've missed this year and I missed it with flair". But he quickly settled down.
They will see each other again tomorrow, and they put some distance from everyone else.
He had his best friend, Paul, on his bag and said the experience was "a bit surreal". The scores were largely good.
By that time he had made six bogeys and been overtaken by Rickie Fowler, who picked up a shot at the hard 6th and then holed a magnificent 60ft-plus putt for a birdie two from a swale besides the 7th, where his ball finished to a chorus of groans after his tee shot pitched at the edge of green and stayed there for a few seconds.
"This course has a lot of crosswinds, so it's tough to judge how far the ball is going to fly depending on what shot you play".
