Staging the Open Championship for just the second time since 1947, Royal Portrush may be one of the least familiar courses on the R&A’s rota but the County Antrim links still underlined the value of familiarity on Thursday.
At the end of a day featuring changeable weather, testing course conditions and marathon rounds, a healthy number of those managing to post under-par totals could boast Open debuts before others in the field took their first steps let alone swings.
Indeed, although occurring before many had made it to the course, at one point during the first round of the championship the co-leaders were Lee Westwood and Phil Mickelson – a pair with a combined age of 107.
Justin Leonard, 53, Zach Johnson, 49, Sergio Garcia, 45, Lucas Glover, 45, and Justin Rose, 44, were all among the 31 players who finished the day under par.
“Links golf, more than any golf, gives you a chance when you’re our age, shall I say?” said Westwood after his round of two under.
Read the full article here