Koepka, Kuchar, Spieth share Open lead
Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka and Matt Kuchar hold a share of the lead after the first day of play at The Open.
Spieth and Kuchar both finished with bogey-free rounds at Royal Birkdale, while Koepka eagled the par 5 17th to share the overnight lead at -5.
Paul Casey and Charl Schwartzel are a shot back, with Ian Poulter among six players two shots off the lead. For Poulter a three-under 67 was his best start to a Major in his career.
Scots Martin Laird and Richie Ramsay finished on -2.
Reigning champion Henrik Stenson is still in touch after shooting -1, along with England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick and Andrew Johnston.
Rory McIlroy dropped five shots in the first six holes but pulled his score back to +1 with an excellent back nine. He is joined by Justin Rose, Lee Westwood and Danny Willett.
Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson (both +3) and Darren Clarke (+5) could all be in danger of missing the cut and Royal Birkdale local Tommy Fleetwood finished on tied 133rd at +6.
Cover Photo: Matt Kuchar by Omar Rawlings used under license by CC BY-ND 2.0.