Rahm, the best of the four although frustrated at +1, far from the first leader, Cameron Young (-8)
Tiger Woods, also punished for the mythical Scottish tour
MADRID, 14 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The British Open, the last ‘Grand Slam’ of the year, began its 150th edition this Thursday with a raw experience for Spanish golfers on the mythical course of Saint Andrews, with Jon Rahm being the best placed in one over par, far from the first leader, the American Cameron Young (-8).
All the beautiful and idyllic things of the moment, the aforementioned visit to the cradle of golf, became a nightmare for the four representatives of Spain on the Scottish tour. After a well-shot defense of the US Open a month ago, Rahm arrived with the ambition and the game a priori in good communion.
However, the Basque had to contain himself on more than one occasion not to shout from the rooftops or release the anger accumulated by the many options that escaped him with the ‘putt’. The short game does not work for Barrika’s player and looking for the flag was not an easy task on a demanding opening day.
With the field firm and fast, and those hundreds of undulations, controlling the long game was a tough subject. Rahm started with ‘birdies’ on 3 and 6, but the frustration with the ‘putt’ made him lose control of the lap in seconds nine, from the ‘bogey’ on 8 exactly. The ball dodged several holes by centimeters, including the bitter end at 18.
The Basque, who dreams of emulating Severiano Ballesteros in these streets full and creators of history, will have to row a lot, because the opening day inspired 56 players under par. Young, a debutant on the PGA circuit and in his first British Open, took the lead alone with eight birdies without fail.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and Australia’s Cameron Smith were the most responsive favourites, at two and three headers, while resonant names like number one Scottie Scheffler, Dustin Johnson, Viktor Hovland, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Bryson DeChambeau they are also out there on the prowl.
This is not the case with Tiger Woods, back in 2022 in which he has only played the Augusta Masters, the PGA Championship in which he retired on the third day and now the British. The American also had the appointment marked on his complicated calendar since his serious accident a year and a half ago, and after seven holes he already had the +6 with which he finished and that left him more outside than inside.
Returning to the Spanish, Adri Arnaus finished at two over par, while Sergio García and Pablo Larrázabal did it at +3. For Arnaus it was a “a bit boring” premiere, as he commented, because he was unable to enjoy a toned game. Meanwhile, Sergio García had a roller coaster ride, especially in the second nine holes.
The one from Borriol once again showed with his 75 that he is going through a difficult moment mentally, with ups and downs and unable to keep up with the good shots. A ‘triple-bogey’ on the 17th was the biggest slab of the day, despite the fact that he made a ‘birdie’ on the 18th. For his part, Larrázabal ended up disappointed by failing with the ‘putt’ and not taking out a version that led to two titles in recent months.