Fri Jul 18 14:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Five Share Lead After Challenging First Round at the 2025 Open Championship
**Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland** – Royal Portrush proved a stern test for the world’s best golfers during the first round of the 2025 Open Championship. Ever-changing weather conditions showcased the course’s defenses, resulting in a tightly packed leaderboard. Five players – Matt Fitzpatrick, Harris English, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Haotong Li, and Jacob Skov Olesen – emerged to share the lead at 4-under par after carding impressive rounds of 67.
Fitzpatrick, seeking to finally fulfill his early potential at The Open, highlighted his round with an eagle on the second hole and a remarkable chip-in on the 16th.
Pre-tournament favorites Scottie Scheffler (-3), Rory McIlroy (-1), and Jon Rahm (-1) remain within striking distance. Scheffler overcame fairway struggles with exceptional approach shots, while McIlroy navigated a rollercoaster round fueled by home crowd support. McIlroy has improved from the 2019 Open at the same location, where he struggled.
A condensed leaderboard sees 31 players under par, with seasoned veterans and rising stars all vying for contention. However, some big names struggled, including Collin Morikawa, Brooks Koepka, and Patrick Reed. Bryson DeChambeau had a particularly difficult day, ending up well outside the cut line.
The second round promises further challenges as players look to separate themselves from the pack and position themselves for a weekend run at the Claret Jug.
First Piper 