The 152nd British Open commenced under slightly overcast skies at Royal Troon, with American Justin Leonard hitting the opening tee shot. Leonard, the 1997 Open champion, played alongside compatriot Todd Hamilton, winner in 2004, and British golfer Jack McDonald in the early groups.
Among the notable pairings, Bryson DeChambeau, fresh off his US Open victory, teed off at 0847 GMT alongside Ludvig Aberg, the young Swedish golfer ranked fourth in the world. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy, aiming for his fifth major title a decade after his last, started at 0909 GMT, adding to the star-studded lineup on day one.
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler joined late starters like Jordan Spieth and Cameron Young as they set out to tackle the challenging links course later in the day. The tournament promises fierce competition as top golfers from around the world vie for the prestigious title at Royal Troon.
In a separate development, Tiger Woods accepted a special exemption to compete in the upcoming US Open at Pinehurst, marking his 23rd appearance at the championship. Woods, despite his current world ranking of 789, remains a pivotal figure in golf history, adding anticipation to the upcoming major tournaments.
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