Full Breakdown
Jackson Suber Tops First Round of 2026 Open Championship
7/17/2026, 5:24:54 AM
Opening Round Surprise
On a warm, breezy day at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, 26-year-old American Jackson Suber posted a 5-under 65 to lead the 2026 Open Championship after the first round. His round featured a clutch par save on the new par-3 15th, a 6-foot birdie on the 16th, and a 6-foot eagle on the 16th after chipping in from 233 yards with a 4-iron. Suber finished one shot ahead of South Korea’s Sungjae Im and England’s Daniel Brown. Five of the leading twelve players were making their Open debut, including Alex Smalley, Ryan Gerard, M.J. Daffue and Pierceson Coody.
Player Performances
Bryson DeChambeau employed his trademark driver-heavy strategy, hitting four fairways and avoiding the bunkers to card a 67, two strokes behind Suber. He missed three greens but stayed out of serious trouble, dropping only two shots on the 14th and 18th. Rory McIlroy struggled with three missed 4-foot putts in a four-hole stretch and accumulated six bogeys for a 72. Scottie Scheffler opened with four birdies in six holes but could not add another, finishing at 68. Cameron Young, Robert MacIntyre, Thomas Detry and 2018 champion Francesco Molinari each posted 67s. Alex Smalley, who had led the PGA Championship two rounds earlier, finished with a double-bogey on the 18th for a 67 total.
Official Reactions
“Just kind of kept the ball in good spots and didn’t put much pressure on my game to make pars,” Suber said after his round.
“Got up to where the ball was supposed to be and was told it hit a spectator fence and kicked another 15 yards right out of bounds. All three of us in our group actually hit it over there, and mine just got an unlucky break,” Smalley explained. “Poor tee shot, poor break. Sometimes that’s how it goes.”
Criticism & Opposition
Three-time Open champion Nick Faldo expressed skepticism toward DeChambeau’s aggressive driver use, suggesting that relying on distance could eventually lead to trouble despite the early success.
The opening round set a dramatic tone for the championship, highlighting a surprise leader in Suber and underscoring the varied strategies and fortunes of the field.
