DeChambeau and McIlroy, who both had impressive performances at the U.S. Open last month, faced a challenging day at The Open Championship in Troon, Scotland. The weather conditions with strong winds and rain made it difficult for the golfers to navigate the course.
DeChambeau struggled to find his rhythm and ended the day with a 5-over 76, while McIlroy was two strokes behind him. DeChambeau expressed his frustration with the wind affecting his shots, leading to some costly mistakes early on in the round. Despite his struggles, he managed to finish strong with a 55-foot eagle putt on the 16th hole.
McIlroy, on the other hand, seemed to be in decent shape after the front nine but ran into trouble on the back nine. A double-bogey on the famous Postage Stamp hole and another double-bogey after hitting a wayward tee shot over the railway set him back to 5 over par.
Justin Thomas, who has had mixed results on links courses in the past, took the early lead with a solid 3-under 68. Despite a few hiccups on the back nine, Thomas managed to finish strong with birdies on the final two holes.
Thomas emphasized the challenging conditions of the course and the need to adapt to the unpredictable wind during the round. He remained optimistic about his game and focused on playing his best without getting caught up in the results.
Overall, the first round of The Open Championship proved to be a tough test for even the best golfers, with the weather conditions adding an extra layer of difficulty. As the tournament progresses, it will be interesting to see how the players adjust to the challenges and who will emerge as the frontrunners in the competition.