Tommy Fleetwood thrilled the crowd at Royal Birkdale with a stunning 73-foot birdie putt on the first hole, setting the tone for his day and igniting hopes of victory at The Open. The Southport golfer, clad in Tiger Woods’ apparel, rolled in the massive putt to send the fans into a frenzy, aiming to become the first Englishman to win the Claret Jug since Sir Nick Faldo in 1992.

Starting the day at six under par, Fleetwood found himself four strokes behind the leader, Sam Burns, who teed off four groups later. Fleetwood expressed his desire to capitalize on the crowd's energy but knew he needed to deliver early, which he did with his impressive opening shot.

Meanwhile, Cameron Young, the Players Championship winner, made a significant move by reaching the turn at eight under par with five birdies, showcasing his formidable form. World number one Scottie Scheffler also began to assert himself on the leaderboard, making three birdies in his first five holes.

In contrast, Rory McIlroy, the Masters champion, struggled to find his rhythm, finishing the front nine at three under par after a bogey at the seventh hole. Jon Rahm faced a tough day, going out of bounds on the first for the second consecutive day, effectively ending his chances. However, Shane Lowry rebounded from a bogey on the first to record back-to-back birdies, including a remarkable bunker shot at the fourth, moving to five under and looking to make a charge.