Rory McIlroy forgetting to make putts leads the 2026 Open Championship storylines after the first round.
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Thanks to his Masters wins in 2025 and 2026, most people have forgotten about Rory McIlroy’s struggles at major tournaments over the past decade. They certainly did as he won two.
But it’s worth remembering that, outside of the Masters, McIlroy hasn’t won one of golf’s three majors since 2014. He let the 2024 US Open slip by making three bogeys in the last four holes to lose by one shot to Bryson DeChambeau.
A big factor in those bogeys was McIlroy’s inability to convert short putts, including a missed 2 1/2-footer on No. 16 and a miss from within 4 meters on No. 18.
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Rory McIlroy reacts after missing a short putt in the first round of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. (Oisin Keniry/R&A)
However, those woes returned on Thursday in the first round of the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. He missed putts from within 4 feet on both No. 7 and No.
After missing six putts within 12 feet in his first 12 holes, McIlroy holed out on the 23rd for birdie on No. 13.
He shot back right with a sloppy bogey on the par-5 14th hole but then holed a 12-footer on No. 15 for birdie.
Unfortunately, he returned that with another sloppy bogey on No. 17, another par 5 at Royal Birkdale. It’s rare for McIlroy to play par-5s in two over, but that’s what happened on Thursday. He missed another putt from within 12 feet on the 17th, making his total eight for the round, before closing in with a birdie on No. 18 to complete his roller-coaster cycle.
In the end, McIlroy carded a 2-over 72 and sits seven shots back of the lead after 18 holes. He is serious about his work if he plans to cut down and play again on the weekend.
Open starter Jackson Suber stands out with an opening round of 65
Most people may not be familiar with the 26-year-old American, but they should be. Suber, who qualified for The Open by finishing tied for fourth at the RBC Canadian Open, compiled the low round of the day at Royal Birkdale and gained six strokes more than the field, according to Data Golf.
He holds a one-shot lead over Daniel Brown and Sungjae Im, who shot matching 66s.
Suber has only competed in the past two majors, missing the cut at this year’s US Open and finishing 73rd at the 2024 US Open. He finds himself in an unfamiliar place, sleeping in the lead in a major tournament.
Jackson Suber and caddy Greyson Porter smile on the 18th green after the first round of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
But he has quietly put together a very strong year on the PGA Tour. Since the start of May, Suber has four top-20 finishes, including a solo fourth at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, the aforementioned T-4 at the RBC Canadian Open and T-6 at the John Deere Classic.
Of course, mass participation is a different kind of oppression. It will be interesting to see how Suber handles it.
Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and other big names in the mix at Royal Birkdale
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler said after his first round 68 that he thought he played better than he said. This is bad news for everyone else at Southport this weekend, but it serves as a reminder that Scheffler is still the best golfer in the world.
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Despite shooting two under par and staying inside the top 20, Scheffler knows he can score better. He had the hottest start of any player on Thursday, birdieing four of his first six holes. But he settled after a torrid start, making two bogeys and no birdies the rest of the way.
Scottie Scheffler got off to a hot start during the first round of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale but holed out in his final 12 holes. (Kate McShane/R&A)
Like McIlroy, Scheffler missed short putts, including a 5-footer on No. 11 and a 4 1/2-footer on No. 17. If the putts start falling again, as they did earlier in the round, watch out for Scheffler.
Bryson DeChambeau finally got some momentum with his first round performance. DeChambeau shared the lead until he made bogey on his final hole. He also teamed with Scheffler and posted a 3-under 67 for world No. 1 in one shot.
DeChambeau had never shot par in any of his six major rounds in 2026, so it was far and away his biggest round of the year. After missing the first three cuts this year, DeChambeau finally looks like he’ll have some time on the weekend.
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In the afternoon wave, world No. 4 Cameron Young shot a 67 to join the log of nine players currently tied for fourth place.
An exciting leaderboard in the Open Championship with a mix of some of the best in the world, such as Scheffler, DeChambeau, and Young, and some unknown players, such as Suber, Daniel Brown, Pierceson Coody and Alex Smalley.
That should set golf fans up for an interesting weekend with plenty of news and intrigue.
