Jackson Suber is sitting atop the leaderboard after the first round of the 2026 Open Championship, carding a blistering 5-under 65 on Thursday. Nobody really saw that coming, right? Now, as all the big names get ready for the second round at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, the chase is officially on.
Heavyweights Chasing the Pack, and Some Stumbling
Bryson DeChambeau, who has been battling it this year missing the cut in all three majors, actually put together an encouraging performance in round one. He shot a 3-under 67, putting him in a tie for the No. 4 spot. The two-time major champion recorded five birdies and only a pair of bogeys, showing he might just be finding his rhythm. What a turnaround that would be! Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy didn't have the start he wanted, racking up six bogeys in the first round. Even with an impressive birdie on his final hole, he still finished with a 2-over 72. That's a tough position to be in heading into Friday. Scottie Scheffler, who is hunting for his second consecutive Open Championship title, is absolutely within striking distance of Suber. Scheffler carded a 2-under 68, which puts him three shots back from the leader. He blasted off strong with four birdies across his first six holes, but couldn't quite keep that momentum rolling. Still, if anyone can find consistency and climb that leaderboard on Friday, it's the four-time major champion.Friday's Must-Watch Tee Times and Battles
Get ready for some serious action on Friday. We've got Shane Lowry, Aaron Rai, and Brooks Koepka teeing off early at 9:47 a.m. Later, Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, and Luvig Aberg are set to go at 9:58 a.m. The star power keeps coming at 10:09 a.m. with Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, and Matt Fitzpatrick. You know McIlroy will be pushing hard to make up ground. Then the afternoon brings even more heat. Justin Thomas, Alex Noren, and Jason Day are out at 2:53 p.m. Scottie Scheffler, Tyrrell Hatton, and Bryson DeChambeau hit the course at 3:04 p.m. That's a pairing with massive implications, with both Scheffler and DeChambeau looking to make their move. Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood, and Jon Rahm follow right after at 3:15 p.m., with Brian Harman, Si Woo Kim, and Nick Taylor rounding out the notable groups at 3:26 p.m. Friday is absolutely massive at Royal Birkdale. Can Jackson Suber hold his lead, or will one of the major champions like Scheffler or DeChambeau make their charge? Rory McIlroy has a huge battle ahead to get back in contention. You don't want to miss a second of this second round!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.