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But a double-bogey six at the 12th and a bogey
on the 13th dropped him back into the pack.
Fellow American Bryson DeChambeau, last month's U.S. Open
champion, started in the company of young Swede Ludvig Aberg,
who is ranked fourth in the world, but the big-hitting
DeChambeau suffered a terrible start.
He was five over after his first six holes and in danger of
playing himself out of contention on day one.
South Korean Song Young-han had made an early move to reach four
under but dropped a shot at the ninth and then made a seven on
the treacherous par-four 11th while England's Matt Wallace
delighted the galleries with a chip-in eagle at the fourth but a
triple bogey on the ninth stunted his progress.
Northern Ireland's world number two Rory McIlroy, bidding for
his fifth major title 10 years after his last one, began with a
bogey at the first after a poor approach shot but birdied the
third to get back to level par.
England's former U.S. Open champion Justin Rose, who had to
qualify this year, was in a group on two under with Denmark's
Nicolai Hojgaard, American Russell Henley and Adam Scott.
Reigning champion Brian Harman uncharacteristically missed a
short putt on the first but replied with two birdies to sit on
one under after his first four holes.
Large galleries headed for home favourite Robert MacIntyre who
was joined by Spain's Jon Rahm and England's Tommy Fleetwood.
Scottish Open winner MacIntyre started solidly but undid an
early birdie with missed par putt at the fifth.
World number one Scottie Scheffler is among the late starters
alongside fellow Americans Jordan Spieth, the 2017 Open
champion, and Cameron Young.
American Justin Leonard struck the opening tee shot but the 1997
winner finished with a nine-over round of 80.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis) [© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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