Collin Morikawa Says Creativity Crucial At Open Championship
The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool gets underway today as the world’s best golfers come together for a final chance at a major in 2023 on the unique challenge that a links course provides.
Rory McIlroy, winner at this venue in 2014, enters the tournament confident of ending his nine-year major drought and he tees off in a marquee group at on Thursday afternoon, alongside Ryder Cup teammates Justin Rose and Jon Rahm.
McIlroy denied home favourite Bob MacIntyre the Scottish Open title last week by brilliantly birdieing the final two holes in appalling conditions and that links form could see him lift the Claret Jug come Sunday.
However, there are plenty of other contenders for the Hoylake crown including world No 1 Scottie Scheffler and in-form local favourite Tommy Fleetwood, who tee off together on Thursday afternoon. Defending champion Cameron Smith won’t give up the Claret Jug without a fight, while Viktor Hovland appears to be on the brink of a first major title and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka can never be discounted.
Follow live coverage of the 151st Open Championship at Hoylake below:
Harman hanging steady
The American has a solid record in this tournament and has made a very good start to this tournament. He’s got one hole to go but remains at -3 after knocking in a seven footer to save his par on the par-3 17th.
Ben Fleming20 July 2023 18:52
The Open 2023 – Bad miss from Morikawa
Morikawa +2 (13), Homa -3 (13), Hatton E (13)
Homa gives himself another good look at birdie on the 13th, but his effort drifts just wide on the right side. Hatton makes a solid par but it’s a horrible short miss from Collin Morikawa who can’t make a four-foot par putt and drops back further to +2.
Ben Fleming20 July 2023 18:50
The Open 2023 – Grillo ties the lead
Well, out of nowhere we have another name atop the leaderboard. Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo makes birdie on 17 before rolling in a 50-foot birdie on the last to jump up to -5 and join Fleetwood and Lamprecht in a tie for the lead.
He won earlier in the year on the PGA Tour at the Charles Schwab Challenge and has made a great start to his seventh Open Championship.
Ben Fleming20 July 2023 18:48
The Open 2023 – Pars all round
McIlroy +2 (13), Rahm +1 (13), Rose +4 (13)
Nothing falling for McIlroy at the minute as the Northern Irishman, along with Rahm, settle for pars after both their balls look to be troubling the hole.
Rose with a superb effort – almost chipping like Finau moments earlier – but his ball comes to rest right in the jaws of the hole. A nice par regardless.
Ben Fleming20 July 2023 18:38
The Open 2023: Chip-in birdie for Finau
Finau +1 (13), Hovland E (13), Thomas +5 (13)
That’s one way to end a bad run! A delightful chip from Tony Finau, perfectly judged and hopping into the hole. Hovland isn’t as lucky and his superb tee shot isn’t fully rewarded, with his birdie effort catching the right lip but staying out.
Ben Fleming20 July 2023 18:32
The Open 2023 – Bogeys for Rahm and McIlroy
McIlroy +2 (12), Rahm +1 (12), Rose +4 (12)
These bunkers are no joke and Rahm finds out first-hand. His drive ends up in the sand off the tee and the Spaniard is left with no choice but to pitch out backwards. From there it’s a tough ask and he can’t get up and down to save his par.
McIlroy chooses to go way left off the tee, instead, but hacks out well to the front edge. It’s a heavy-handed chip, though, and he’s got 10 feet for par…not to be. Another bogey for the world number two who drops back to +2 now. Very disappointing.
Ben Fleming20 July 2023 18:27
The Open 2023 – Back-to-back birdies for Homa
Morikawa +1 (11), Homa -3 (11), Hatton E (11)
Max Homa is certainly producing one of the rounds of the afternoon wave and it gets better for the American with a dialled approach into the 11th. He converts for successive birdies to move into a tie for sixth.
Morikawa makes par but it’s a short putt to forget for Hatton which lips out on the right side meaning the Englishman drops back to level par.
Ben Fleming20 July 2023 18:23
The Open 2023 – Back-to-back birdies for Hovland
Finau +2 (12), Hovland E (12), Thomas +5 (12)
That’s more like it, Viktor! A wonderful approach shot from the heart of the fairway sets up a simple birdie effort and the Norwegian converts for the second time in as many holes. Back to even par and with the 15th to play, he’ll be eyeing up a red number at the end of the day.
Finau’s ambitions of going under par have got a bit tougher after the American makes bogey from the right greenside rough. Thomas remains at +5 with a par.
Ben Fleming20 July 2023 18:17
The Open 2023 – Birdie miss for Rahm
McIlroy +1 (11), Rahm E (11), Rose +4 (11)
The Spaniard fails to take advantage of a sparkling tee shot as his short-range birdie putt misses on the left side.
Rory gets a smidge lucky as his chip shot over the bunker is mishit but fortunately lands just on the right side, trickling down towards the pin. He saves his par with a solid stroke. It’s a par also for Rose to remain at +4.
Ben Fleming20 July 2023 18:10
The Open 2023 – Homa birdies, bogeys for Hatton and Morikawa
Morikawa +1 (10), Homa -2 (10), Hatton -1 (10)
Plenty of action from this group of the tenth. Tyrell Hatton drops one having found himself in the greenside bunker while Morikawa also can’t save par with a long-range effort.
Homa capitalises on a wonderful approach, however, and gets another birdie to move him up to -2.
Ben Fleming20 July 2023 18:07