Jackson Suber, a name many might not have known yesterday, rolled in a clutch eagle putt late Thursday at Southport, England, securing a one-stroke lead at The Open after an insane 5-under-par 65. This 26-year-old, who hasn't ever nabbed a PGA Tour win, isn't playing around, proving his recent run of form is the real deal on one of golf's biggest stages.
Suber's Unbelievable Climb
Talk about momentum! Suber absolutely owned the back nine, especially that par-5 17th. His eagle there, set up by a *splendid* 4-iron shot right onto the green, propelled him past early clubhouse leaders Dan Brown and South Korea's Sungjae Im, who both finished with 66s at Royal Birkdale Golf Club. He started the frontside even, but then dropped four birdies and picked up only one bogey over an eight-hole stretch, all before that game-changing eagle. He's been feeling it lately, too, racking up three top-10 finishes this year, all since mid-May. "I felt like the momentum was really in my favor," Suber said. "Kept the ball in good spots and didn't put much pressure on my game to make pars." You love to hear that confidence! This guy's coming into his own, learning what works.Big Names Scramble Behind
While Suber was flying high, some of the biggest names had their own battles. Bryson DeChambeau, rocking his full set of 3D-printed irons, found himself tied for the lead after nailing a couple of late birdies. But then, the 18th hit him with a bogey, dropping him to a 67. Remember, this is the same DeChambeau who missed the cut at the first three majors this year, never shooting better than 70. He admitted, "Besides 18, I placed the ball in some good areas. I need to hit more fairways." Even World No. 1 and defending champ Scottie Scheffler couldn't get a birdie on his final 12 holes, finishing with a 68. His insane streak of 78 made cuts ended last week, and he had a bogey on 17. Meanwhile, Alex Smalley had a rough end, falling out of the lead with a double-bogey 6 on the last hole when his ball bounced out of bounds off a spectator fence. Smalley had been on fire with birdies on four of his first five holes, and Nos. 14 and 15, but that finish stings for someone also without a PGA Tour win, despite four top-10s this year. Suber's got the lead, but this is golf, and Royal Birkdale is no joke. With big names like DeChambeau and Scheffler still in the hunt, even if they had some hiccups, Suber's gonna need to keep that momentum rolling. Can this 26-year-old keep his cool and stay atop the leaderboard? We'll be watching every shot tomorrow!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.