In a surprising turn of events at the British Open, Daniel Brown made a memorable major championship debut by securing a one-shot lead over Shane Lowry. The 29-year-old Englishman birdied two of the last three holes under challenging twilight conditions at Royal Troon, finishing with an impressive 6-under 65.
The wind, blowing fiercely from an unexpected direction off the Irish Sea and accompanied by intermittent rain, caught many golfers off guard on Thursday. The tough conditions transformed Royal Troon into a demanding course from start to finish, contrary to players’ expectations.
“I’m going to try and keep my feet on the ground a bit and take on the job again tomorrow,” said Brown, who appeared unfazed by his sudden rise to the top of the leaderboard. Despite failing to make the cut in seven consecutive tournaments since March, Brown secured his spot at the British Open through final qualifying and demonstrated remarkable composure on the course.
The adverse weather impacted several seasoned players. Rory McIlroy struggled, carding a 78 with two double bogeys. U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau shot a 76 after going out in 42 on the front nine. Tiger Woods, facing the relentless conditions, recorded a 79—his highest start in a major since the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.
Shane Lowry, however, navigated the tough terrain adeptly, finishing just one stroke behind Brown. “Fortunately enough, I came here two weeks ago and I played this wind on the second day that I played here. I saw the golf course in every wind possible I could see it,” Lowry reflected. “Yeah, I guess that was a good thing to do, and it’s out there paying off a little bit today.”
The wind’s unusual direction meant players faced challenges throughout the entire course, rather than the typical strategy of capitalizing on the downwind front nine. Brown’s performance, especially given his recent form, has set an exciting tone for the remainder of the championship.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Brown to see if he can maintain his lead amidst stiff competition and unpredictable weather conditions. Golf enthusiasts worldwide await with anticipation as the British Open unfolds.
Reference(s):
Brown makes late birdies for a 1-shot lead over Lowry in British Open
cgtn.com
