The British Open commenced at Royal Troon with Rory McIlroy taking an early start on a cool, cloudy morning by the Irish Sea. The tournament saw the return of the silver claret jug, previously held by Brian Harman, as defending champion, with Justin Leonard hitting the opening tee shot into a stiff breeze. Leonard, the 1997 Open winner at Royal Troon, set the tone for the day.
McIlroy, along with U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, were part of the early wave of players. The wind off the Firth of Clyde posed a challenge, blowing in the opposite direction than usual, affecting play on the course.
