2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen plummeted down the leaderboard after a horror start to the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Oosthuizen started off well enough with a trio of pars before going drop, drop as he struggled to find greens in regulation. Four pars followed for the Mossel Bay-born star as he made the turn in 36.
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The world number 23 began the back nine with a bogey on the 10th before registering his sole birdie for the round on the 11. Then the wheels came off as he dropped six shots in three holes, including a triple bogey on the 15th. He managed to limit the damage with three pars to close, but will have to produce something magical on Friday if he wants to make the cut.
Oosthuizen’s struggles came despite finding 64% of the fairways as conditions improved throughout the day. The former Claret Jug winner hit just 33% of the greens in regulation – a stat that must improve if he wants to hang around this weekend in Southport.
The South African’s struggles were the polar opposite of the afternoons enjoyed by American duo Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka. Spieth, a two-time Major winner, was bogey-free on Thursday in a remarkable round around Birkdale, which saw him find 36% of the fairways. Spieth went out in 31 and made two birdies on the way in – on 14 and 17 – to move past Ian Poulter as the new clubhouse leader, before he was swiftly joined by Brooks Koepka.
The US Open winner made the turn in one under par before three birdies in a row from the 11th hole. Koepka is fast becoming a force at the top of any leaderboard, as the former Challenge Tour member bounced back from a bogey on the 16th hole with an eagle on the par 5 17th before getting up and down for par at the last, which helped him join Spieth at the top after round one.
‘I love links golf and I’m up for the challenge. I’ve not changed because I’ve won a major, there’s no added pressure, it’s not a sense of relief. It’s just hitting a golf ball and I’ve still got goals I want to attain. I’ve got more to win,’ said Koepka.
Reigning Champion Golfer of the Year, Henrik Stenson, began his defence with a one-under par 69.
Earlier, Dylan Frittelli got his Open Championship debut off to a rocky start, going out in +3 before a topsy-turvy back nine – which included three birdies and a double at 16 – saw him sign for an opening 74, a tally three shots greater than Shaun Norris.
Norris, who won in Japan last month, scrambled well to offset six bogeys with five birdies during his opening round.
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Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
