Dean Burmester and Thriston Lawrence were the best of the South Africans on a difficult opening day of The Open at Royal Troon.
They were among 13 players tied for 18th after rounds of even-par 71 in wet and windy conditions.
Burmester’s round included four bogeys, two birdies and a hole-out eagle on the 16th, with Lawrence’s two bogeys offset by two birdies.
A hole-out eagle from the bunker on the 16th.
Dean Burmester is back to level par. pic.twitter.com/nWgNed8QA3
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 18, 2024
Christiaan Bezuidenhout carded a 75 to sit on four over, with Darren Fichardt and Ryan van Velzen a further two strokes behind.
2010 Open winner Louis Oosthuizen had five bogeys, a triple-bogey and just one birdie in his round of 78, while amateur Altin van der Merwe, in his Open debut, and Ryan van Velzen both carded 79.
Two-time Open champion Ernie Els, who won his first senior Major last week, had a nightmare round of 11-over 81, with a triple-bogey and eight bogeys.
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HIGHLIGHTS: 2024 Open (Round 1)
Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images
