#152nd

American Justin Leonard struck the opening tee shot as the 152nd British Open started in slightly overcast conditions at Royal Troon on Thursday. Leonard, the 1997 Open winner, was playing with compatriot Todd Hamilton, 2004 champion at the Scottish links course, and Briton Jack McDonald. American Bryson DeChambeau, last month’s US Open champion, will start his first round at 0847 GMT (1417 IST)…

English journeyman Daniel Brown birdied the last hole to card a first-round 65 and lead the British Open by one shot from Ireland’s Shane Lowry on Thursday. The 29-year-old Brown, a one-time European Tour winner who came through qualifying to earn his place in the year’s final major, took advantage of benign late conditions. He sank an eight-foot birdie putt at the last to move top of the…

Tiger Woods had little good to say about his disastrous eight-over-par first round at the British Open on Thursday, as the Royal Troon course took a toll on the three-time winner. The American recorded six bogeys, two double bogeys and a two birdies in a round of 79 and admitted his lack of playing time may have impacted his performance. “As the year has gone on, I have gotten better. I just wish…

Shubhankar Sharma will be the only Indian passport holder teeing off at the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon, Scotland on Thursday even as several Indian-origin players, including Akshay Bhatia, would aim to hold aloft the Claret Jug at the oldest Major over the weekend. Last year Sharma finished tied-eighth at Royal Liverpool for the best-ever finish by an Indian at the British Open. Apart…

An estimated 250,000 golf fans will pour into Royal Troon to watch the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods at the British Open. The Kelly family might have the best vantage point, though, when the 152nd edition begins on Thursday. “Blackrock House” sits in the middle of the championship course and has views of five holes. Their private home, one-half of the two-dwelling…