The Open leaderboard: Rory McIlroy, Matt Kuchar making early moves at Birkdale

Matt Kuchar has broken the three-way American tie atop the leaderboard of the 146th Open Championship.

Kuchar moved ahead of Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka early on Friday morning, posting back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth holes to get to 6-under. The stretch was a perfect response by Kuch to a bogey at the second hole. There will be more bogeys to come, no doubt, as the winds gust at Royal Birkdale — Kuchar’s playing partner, Richie Ramsay, had to call him in when his ball kept oscillating on the green due to the gusts.

Kuchar’s first birdie of the day came on a brilliant hole-out to jump-start the round and get him back to even par for the day. We saw Kuch pour in a putt off the green yesterday, and there he was again on Friday draining it with the flagstick still in the cup:

Kuchar was a trendy sleeper pick this week after a strong showing at the Scottish Open. There’s a long way to go, but the American appears primed for at least contending in another major championship. Maybe he continues the trend of veteran winners of The Open.

While Kuchar shifts to the top of the leaderboard, there’s some serious firepower behind him trying to put together a run. We’ve got Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, and Sergio Garcia all in the red for the day. McIlroy started his round with two darts into the flag at the second and third holes that led to birdies. It’s the kind of start that makes you move to the edge of your seat.

We’re going to be cautious, yes. But no one in this game is more exciting when he’s on than Rory, and after the misery of a recent missed cut stretch, maybe he’s finally flipped the switch. After going out with five bogeys in his first six holes yesterday, McIlroy came in the house with a 4-under 32 to fight his way back to 1-over. Momentum isn’t a real thing, but it appears Rory is playing with some of that same form to start Friday’s round.

Fowler made his own move with back-to-back birdies a la Kuch and Rory, dropping one from off the green with the flag still in the hole:

Fowler did not play particularly well on Thursday, but he hung on to post a respectable 71 while he was fighting it. He tends to play his best and stick out the most in the tougher weather conditions, so here’s hoping he finds something on Friday to get back to the first page of the leaderboard, where many expected him to reside this week.

Here’s your leaderboard at the 146th Open: