Jordan Spieth put a target on his back as the guy to beat at Royal Birkdale after his bogey-free, opening-round 5-under 65 got him to the top of the 2017 British Open leaderboard.
British Open leaderboard: Jordan Spieth put on a clinic en route to lead at Royal Birkdale
Spieth shot a 5-under 65 in the first round.
Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Spieth, with two PGA Tour wins this year, was not flawless in tough conditions in the morning, but the world No. 3 was able to mitigate his few miscues with scrambling saves and a hot putter.
At the par-4 16th, for instance, Spieth lost his drive to the right rough but ensured he did not drop a shot when he rolled in a par putt.
Spieth got the party going with a long, twisting putt on the second hole for his first of five birdies. With birds on the eighth and ninth, the two-time major champion made the turn at 3-under 31. His iron play, as always, was impeccable.
Spieth put an exclamation point on his stellar round with a par at 18 that lifted him to the top spot, though reigning U.S. Open winner Brooks Koepka, on the strength of an eagle on the par-5 17th, soon tied Spieth for the clubhouse lead.
Lots of golf left so no one’s etching Spieth’s name on the Claret Jug just yet. But if his ball-striking and putting remain strong, he should hold serve and win his third major title.
Nothing, of course, is guaranteed, as the five previous players since the start of the century to do what Spieth did failed to keep the lead.
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