Kevin Kisner turned in an absolutely brilliant putting performance on Thursday, needing just 22 strokes on the green en route to a 5-under 66 to hold a one-shot lead after 18 holes at the Open Championship.
Playing in the eighth group in the morning, Kisner carded four birdies and an eagle around a baked-out Carnoustie to sit just ahead of Tony Finau, Erik Van Rooyen, and Zander Lombard.
Brendan Steele, Brandon Stone, and Ryan Moore sit two shots off the pace in a tie for fifth, but it's the group at 2-under-par that features some big names on the leaderboard.
Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, and Zach Johnson are among those tied for eighth after firing 69s in the opening round, well within striking distance of Kisner heading into Friday.
| Place | Player | Total to par | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Kisner | -5 | 66 |
| T2 | Tony Finau | -4 | 67 |
| T2 | Erik Van Rooyen | -4 | 67 |
| T2 | Zander Lombard | -4 | 67 |
| T5 | Brandon Stone | -3 | 68 |
| T5 | Ryan Moore | -3 | 68 |
| T5 | Brendan Steele | -3 | 68 |
| T8 | Rory McIlroy | -2 | 69 |
| T8 | Justin Thomas | -2 | 69 |
| T8 | Jon Rahm | -2 | 69 |
| T8 | Zach Johnson | -2 | 69 |
| T8 | Pat Perez | -2 | 69 |
| T8 | Russell Henley | -2 | 69 |
| T8 | Danny Willett | -2 | 69 |
| T8 | Matthew Southgate | -2 | 69 |
| T8 | Chez Reavie | -2 | 69 |
| T8 | Sung Kang | -2 | 69 |
Thanks to record-breaking heat this summer, Carnoustie presented as firm a challenge as has been seen in recent memory, with tee shots often rolling out up to 100 yards once they land. That led to conditions worsening over the course of the day, with the morning wave getting the upper hand on those who teed off later.
One of those players in the afternoon group was Tiger Woods, as the three-time Open champion made his first start at the event since 2015. The 42-year-old got off to a hot start with two birdies in his first four holes but dropped back to even par by the end of his round due to the difficult back nine.
While he may have hoped for a stronger finish, Woods is within striking distance after Round 1, something he couldn't say following the opening 18 holes of the U.S. Open last month.
Another player victimized by the challenging closing side at the Scottish layout was defending champion Jordan Spieth. The 24-year-old came to the 15th hole at 3-under but finished with a 1-over 72 after two bogeys and a double in his final four holes.
Friday's forecast brings the most challenging weather expected this week, with rain and wind projected to hit the area during the morning. The afternoon wave should have excellent scoring conditions when they hit the historic links later in the day.
