It felt like golf’s longest day and the first round of the 2025 Open witnessed weather of every kind. There was sunshine and showers, rain and heavy rain, breezes and gusts.
Thank goodness, however – we didn’t get the forecasted thunderstorms.
At the end of a day that began at 6.30 in the morning and ended around 10pm, we have five golfers sharing the lead after carding 4-under 67s: Denmark’s Jacob Skov Olesen, China’s Haotong Li, England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout and the American Harris English.
Scottie Scheffler is one back of the lead and Rory McIlroy three back.
There is, of course, a long way to go – three rounds, in fact – but who are the winners and losers from the first part of the quest to become the 2025 Champion Golfer of the Year?
WINNERS
Padraig Harrington
The two-time Open winner admitted that he was nervous ahead of hitting the first shot of the championship and he became even more jittery shortly after 6am.
“I came off the range about 20 minutes before my tee time, I could see the grandstand, and it was empty,” he said. “I was like, ‘I thought this was going to be full.’ Then I saw people queueing to get in. They hadn’t let anybody in yet.
“By the time we got there, the grandstand was full, the first fairway was full, the first green was full. Hitting my second shot in close and holing the putt was a serious buzz. It was very exciting and those crowds were spectacular at that hour of the morning.”
Portrush and the fans
Cameron Smith spoke for many when he said: “It seems like there’s a lot of Opens where the course is great but the town doesn’t really get involved, whereas everyone in Portrush is happy to have you here.
“And the fans are great. I love these fans. They’re polite. They know a good shot from a bad shot. Sometimes, you hit a really nice shot to kind of 30, 40 feet, and maybe some fans don’t get that. These guys understand that it’s a great shot.”
Rory McIlroy
They were minor wins, but wins nonetheless. He didn’t go out of bounds off the first tee. He didn’t need four putts on the 16th green. He didn’t shoot a score that blew him from the tournament. True, he drove the ball badly but he can attack the lead on Friday rather than only hope to make the cut as he did in 2019.
Jacob Skov Olesen
The Dane won the Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin 12 months ago and he clears love this part of the world. He thrashed a brilliant 67 to set the early pace.
His victory last year came with an invitation to play at Augusta National in the Masters but he lost it after turning pro. He still had a ticket for Monday’s practice day but the stormy weather prevented him stepping foot on the property. He’s hoping he’ll get there eventually.
Haotong Li
The Chinese player has missed his last three cuts at the Open but he was third on his championship debut at Royal Birkdale in 2017 and he opened his account this week with a 67.
Matt Fitzpatrick
The Englishman has a very consistent record at the Open (nine starts, eight cuts made) but his best finish is an underwhelming T20. But that result did come at Royal Portrush in 2019 and his opening lap of 67 beat his previous first round best of 69 (at Royal Birkdale in 2017).
Harris English
The 35-year-old has three top 10s in the US Open and this year finished T12 in the Masters and runner-up in the PGA Championship.
He played those last two tournaments with hie regular caddie Eric Larsen but he was refused a visa because he has served 10 years in prison. This week English has Ramon Bescansa on his bag and it’s worked quite nicely through the first round. He spent much of the day at 5-under before ending it in that tie for the lead.
Read more: Revealed: Three massive under-the-radar picks for Open 2025 glory
Shane Lowry
The Irishman admitted returning to the venue of his 2019 triumph was difficult but his 70 was a good start. “I’m happy,” he said.
“I’ve fought with this round in my head for a few weeks now. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I felt like I managed to handle myself very well. The crowds were amazing. Everything about this tournament has just been great.”
Lee Westwood
A first major championship appearance in three years for the 52-year-old Englishman and what a return with a round of 69. “I love the Open and I love Portrush,” he said.
“I’ve been coming here a long time. It’s one of the golf courses where, if it wasn’t The Open and somebody said do you want to play Portrush this weekend, I’d probably go. There’s not many golf courses like that.”
Scottie Scheffler
The World No. 1 is yet to win the Open but he has always got off to a good start. This is his fifth appearance and he’s always ended the first round in the top 20. He maintained that trend this year with a 68.
Phil Mickelson
His opening round of 70 was the first time he has broken 72 at the Open since 2018 (that’s 12 rounds) and he’s on track to make the cut in a major for the first time this year.
LOSERS
Ryan Peake
It wasn’t a great start for the ex-gang member Ryan Peake from New Zealand.
“I just got beat up out there,” he said after an opening 77 which were maybe not the most appropriate words for a man who’s done time for assault.
Wyndham Clark
Not a great few days for the 2023 US Open champion. Shortly after being banned from Oakmont Country Club following an incident when he smashed up his locker during last month’s US Open, he opened the championship with a 76.
Robert MacIntyre
A minor loser. The Scot was fancied by many this week and looked in good nick when 3-under through eight. But he limped home to complete a level-par 71 that left him scowling and swearing at his ball.
Jordan Spieth
The American loves the Open. He’s never missed a cut, his last nine starts all reaped top 30s, he has five top 10s and was winner in 2017. But his 73 was the most shots he has needed in the first round in all 11 visits.
Read next: The seven lowest scores ever carded at Royal Portrush
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