Americans gradually surging in the Open Championship after first round – Part 1
Many of the American sports fanatics would have been leaning on the likes of Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker to shine in the Open Championship, however, it was the less notable bunch of players who managed to push for contention after the first round of
The Open Championship here at Royal St. George’s on Thursday July 14.
Lucas Glover, the 2009 US Open winner and Webb Simpson were the highest ranking American players on the leaderboard, who finished their opening rounds for a joint third.
Glover shot three straight birdies on the closing holes to stay in contention in the third major of the season. He dropped just one shot at par-four 2nd to keep the hopes alive for the American brigade.
“Yeah, good finish. Caught a little break with the wind, laid down about 13 or 14, and Robert and I kind of chuckled on 14 tee. We both kind of said, where did the wind go? So I think you'll see some birdies this evening coming in,” said Glover while speaking
to the press after the day’s play.
The 31-year-old has not been very successful in his Open bids in the past and his best finish came in 2007 when he finished for a joint 27th. He won the Wells Fargo Championship in May this year and boosts of a strong form for the moment.
Simpson also shot four birdies in his bogey-free round, battling the swirling winds to reach the third spot. The 25-year-old from North Carolina did well to read the wind gusts on a tough Links course to stay in contention. Simpson has not won an event on
the PGA Tour and posted three Top-10 finishes in the season to get a place in the Open this year.
Kyle Stanley was also one of the top American players who managed to card a first round of two-under, 68 to finish for a joint sixth, trailing the leaders by three shots.
“I putted well, I hit the ball well, and mainly I put the ball in the right spots, which is what I think you have to do out here. Bobby and I have a great game plan for this golf course, and we just executed our shots really well today,” said Stanley, who
is coming out of a strong season with his runners up finish at the John Deere Classic.
The young golfer is utilizing his Walker Cup experience to tame the wild links here at Royal St. George’s.
Stanley is not the only American player who is in contention for sixth place though. He is joined by three other American players including Ricky Barnes, Jeff Overton and Ryan Palmer, all having scores of two-under.
Steve Stricker and long-hitting Bubba Watson are further down the leaderboard tied for the 18th spot with their opening rounds of one-under each.
Article continued in Part 2…
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