South Africa’s Branden Grace fought back from a slow start to finish level par during Thursday’s first round of The Open Championship, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Grace was one of the early starters who had to contend with rain and tricky crosswinds at Royal Birkdale, which tested many of those first out on the course during the opening round.
The 29-year-old got off to the worst possible start after finding the pot bunker on the first hole, which saw him drop a shot after a bogey five. He dropped further down the leaderboard after another drop on the fourth, before five consecutive pars saw him make the turn in two-over par 36.
With seven European Tour wins to his name, the South African fought back well on the back nine, which saw the wind worsen but the rain subside as he continues his search for his maiden Major. He recorded his first birdie on the par four 11th before another on the 15th helped him get back to level par on the par 70 course in Southport.
Grace got into red figures with a birdie on 17, but slipped back to level as he closed with a bogey on 18. He will need to improve his iron-play if he wants to make a move on Friday, after finding only 41% of the fairways during his first round.
Fellow South African Darren Fichardt is also safely warming up in the clubhouse after he posted an opening round 71, closing with two consecutive birdies. The 42-year-old’s round was marred by some wayward drives – he found just 7 of 14 fairways – but crucially kept himself in with a good chance of making the cut by finding 72% of the greens in regulation.
The surprise early clubhouse lead came in the form of Welshman Stuart Manley, who finished eagle birdie to get to two-under for the round.
‘The conditions were bad at the start and I was pretty nervous, but I settled quickly and finished in very nice fashion. I didn’t take many risks out there, I plotted my way around. I didn’t feel I had my game out there,’ said Manley.
‘I didn’t dream about this, I was just hoping to post a decent score and make the cut. It’s not sunk in yet. I didn’t get much sleep last night, I was too excited and I’ve got a six-month-old baby that woke up at 3am. I’ll sleep better tonight.’
Manley was displaced at the top by Englishman Ian Poulter, who walked confidently into the clubhouse on -3. Just days away from losing his tour card on the PGA Tour a few months ago, he now looks to contend at the venue where he finished runner-up in 2008.
Poulter took the early lead before seven straight pars on the back nine halted his march away from the field. The 41-year-old was inches away from holing out for eagle on the 17th as he tapped in for birdie and then closed with a sandsave par to take the clubhouse lead on 67.
At the time of writing, Poulter was joined on -3 by American Jordan Spieth, who went out in 31 as he looks for the third leg of the career grand slam.
Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
