Jon Rahm reflecting on some "crazy" bounces at Royal Troon as he kept his Open bid alive after a battling first round, with Justin Thomas holding the clubhouse lead
The Spaniard, who made a shock move to LIV Golf at the start of the year, saw his Masters defence end in a joint-45th place finish before he missed the cut at the following month's US PGA.
A toe injury forced him to pull out hours before his US Open tee time but he arrived at Royal Troon hoping to put all that. He shot a two-over 73, which included just one birdie, at the par-three Postage Stamp eighth.
He said despite recent rain and more during the first day, he was still surprised by the firmness of the links which, with winds gusting up to 20mph, made things tricky.
"I didn't hit it my best today, but it's very easy to get a little bit tentative out there trying to guide it a little bit, but I'm comfortable," he said.
"What I was able to do was make a lot of good par putts that kept the round going, but I didn't put myself in position enough to maybe make a couple of birdies and shoot somewhere even par or even one under, which would have been a fantastic round.
"I recommend watching 14 and 17 because you're going to see some crazy holes and crazy bounces.
"The 14th is 210 yards, back-left pin, severely downwind off the left. Short of that pin it's all downhill. We had consensus in the group that the only way to hit it close is hitting the pin.
"Obviously you can hit it close but it's very difficult. Then 17 it's - 240 yards, the same - downwind off the left, and the green slopes off everywhere, it is just how bouncy it is.
"The difference between a couple over and a couple under could be one hole here and there, one bounce here and there and just one mistake in general can make a two-shot difference.
"That's why I'm not surprised there's not many low scores out there. It's a battle."
An eagle at the 16th for Bryson DeChambeau.
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 18, 2024
Will this lead to a change in momentum? pic.twitter.com/rVkWXXIdww
Fleetwood, expected by many to enjoy a strong week, signed for a 76, leaving him alongside US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau on five-over.
The American got off to a disastrous start, making three bogeys in his first four holes and then dropping two more shots at the par-five sixth, but DeChambeau found a much-needed eagle at the 16th hole to lift his spirits.
"It's a completely different test and something I'm not familiar with,” DeChambeau said after going one-under for his back nine.
“I didn't get any practice in and I didn't really play much in the rain. I never grew up playing it - I can do it when it's warm and not windy.
"I'm proud of the way I persevered today. I could have thrown in the towel after nine but no, I've got a chance tomorrow. I'm excited for the challenge.”
Ryder Cup team-mates Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg were a shot better at four-over, but it was a miserable day for Rory McIlroy as he carded an opening 78.
Thomas held the clubhouse lead in the afternoon, posting a three-under 68 to set the early pace, a year on from missing the cut by eight shots at Hoylake.
"I couldn't even tell you what I was thinking or how it was then," said Thomas, who followed his opening 62 in last week's Scottish Open with three rounds in the 70s to finish 62nd, when asked how his play compared to last year's Open.
"I'm just worried about how I am now, and I'm very pleased with my game and know things are continuing to work in the right direction. I've just got to keep trying to play well.
"I feel like everything has been turning the right way and I've been working on the right things. I haven't really had much to show for it but that's just how this game works sometimes.
