Round 1 of the 2026 Open in England threw down some wild proof that Royal Birkdale isn't playing favorites: Francesco Molinari ranked a baffling 150th in driving distance, but still signed for a 3-under 67. Talk about a head-scratcher! Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau, who absolutely smoked the ball and ranked first in driving distance, also finished with a 3-under 67. You just can't make this stuff up. This course is a puzzle, and apparently, there are a hundred ways to solve it, or at least try to.
The "Choose Your Own Adventure" Championship
It was clear right from Thursday that Royal Birkdale isn't a one-trick pony. Players had their entire bag at their disposal, and what worked for one guy totally backfired for another. Tyrrell Hatton, second only to DeChambeau in driving distance, carded a 68. Collin Morikawa, who was one behind Molinari in driving distance, still managed to tie Hatton's 68. It’s like the course is daring you to pick a strategy, any strategy, and see what happens. Jackson Suber, the overnight leader, seemed to find all the right circles, showing the course *can* be tamed. Scottie Scheffler, who also opened with a 68, missed only one fairway and led the field in driving accuracy, proving that precision is just as potent as power. He felt like he, DeChambeau, and Hatton employed three totally different strategies out there.Rory McIlroy's Aggressive Gamble Doesn't Pay Off (Yet)
While some found a groove, Rory McIlroy is definitely still searching for answers. He went with an aggressive approach, similar to DeChambeau and Hatton, but the results were far from stellar. McIlroy finished 2-over 72, putting him eight strokes adrift from the lead, right alongside Matt Fitzpatrick (+2) and Xander Schauffele (+1). The wild thing is, these three guys ended up around the same score but attacked the course with wildly different plans. On the par-4 9th, McIlroy punished his tee shot and drove the par 4, making a birdie despite missing a short putt earlier. Schauffele and Fitzpatrick laid back, with Schauffele also making birdie and Fitzpatrick taking a par. Later, Schauffele took iron off the tee, Fitzpatrick a fairway wood, and McIlroy, fresh off a bogey, went with a driver. McIlroy ended up with a birdie, Fitzpatrick a par, but Schauffele stumbled with a double bogey. Even with McIlroy's struggles, he drove the ball "incredibly well," taking the course on off the tee, and he birdied 13, 15, and 18 on the back nine. That's the maddening "tug-and-pull, give-and-take" chess match Royal Birkdale demands. This championship is far from over with 54 holes left to play. Royal Birkdale showed us that while distance is always an advantage, a sharp mind truly is the equalizer. The biggest thing to watch for is who can put together all the pieces of this wild puzzle over the weekend.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.