Still no birdies for this three-ball, who have just the nine major titles between them.

Enormous crowds following this group. Great day to be watching the golf under the blue Birkdale sky.

A bogey for Brooks Koepka at the fourth draws a groan from the punters. He'll slip to one over.

Pars apiece for Aaron Rai and Shane Lowry.

Image source, Getty Images

World number one Scottie Scheffler, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live after scoring two-under par 68:

"The start was great. Outside of that, I felt I didn't take advantage of some of my good play. Wish I could have holed a few more putts, but overall it was a solid day. I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens.

"Overall, it was definitely a solid day. There is some risks on the golf course. There is some challenges there. You can get yourself in some troublesome spots pretty quickly. I did a good job getting them on the fairway and getting them on the green."

Image source, Getty Images

Collin Morikawa started off bogey-birdie and has rattled off a couple of pars since then to sit on level par for the tournament so far - nothing special but nothing too bad either.

Unlike JJ Spaun, as last year's US Open champion has made back-to-back bogeys while Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard has three bogeys in four holes.

Cameron Young has had a fine time in golf's bigger events so far in 2026, winning the Players Championship and finishing in a tie for third at the Masters.

The American holes a 25-footer for birdie on the second to move to one under, which is three shots off the lead jointly held by Dan Brown and Sungjae Im.

This is Tommy Fleetwood's 12th Open, he's only broken 70 four times in the opening round in his previous 11. One of those became a missed cut when the weather changed at St Andrews and one resulted in a T33 finish at St George's in similar conditions to this week.

He shot 68 in the opening round at Portrush in 2019 and went on to finish second, while a 66 in the first round at Royal Liverpool in 2023 resulted in him coming home in 10th.

So despite not having anywhere near his best stuff today that's a really good sign.

Chris Jones
BBC commentator on Radio 5 Live at Royal Birkdale

This is a three ball which can only be described as big time.

The crowds tell you that this is a group which everyone wants to watch.

Image source, PA Media

Matt Fitzpatrick pulls his tee shot on the second and earns himself a sandy lie in amongst the gallery.

He clips the ball beautifully and finds the heart of the green, from where he lags his first putt and accepts a par.

Rory McIlroy has 141 yards from the fairway and takes a bit of height out of it with an abbreviated follow through. Front of the green, 20 feet or so, but he can't get the putt to drop.

Xander Schauffele finds the green and two putts from 25 feet for another par.

Image source, Reuters

Thirty feet for birdie at the second - no problem.

Five feet for par at the third? Missed!

Aaron Rai immediately gives back his shot.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport golf reporter at Royal Birkdale

All things considered, Tommy Fleetwood must be happy with that.

Nine years ago at a Birkdale, he played himself out of contention on day one. Today, he’s not done that.

Fleetwood puffs out his cheeks as the looming galleries around the 18th show their appreciation - and pride - for the local boy done good.

Catriona Matthew
Captain of Team Europe at the 2019 & 2021 Solheim Cup on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

What a thrill for Tommy Fleetwood coming up [the 18th].

He will be delighted with that. He has gone out there and not played himself out.

Tommy Fleetwood rolls in a par putt on 18 to finish with a one-under round of 69 - by no means out of things and a score he'll probably take considering the size of the occasion and the emotions he was no doubt feeling all the way around.

Jon Rahm matches Fleetwood's 69 but in general the Spaniard played a lot better, but could just not make the big putts when he needed them. He's probably come up two shots short of what his play deserved today.

A tough day for 2017 Open champion at Birkdale Jordan Spieth who could not really get going but did manage to limit the damage to just a 72.

Image source, PA Media

Brilliant work from Aaron Rai and Shane Lowry at the par-four second.

First, Lowry pounds in a 35-footer for birdie and he's swiftly followed into the cup by Rai from 30 feet.

Into the red they go.

Some work to do from just off the green for Wyndham Clark, who gets up and down for par on the second after his opening bogey.

Sarah Mulkerrins
BBC reporter at Royal Birkdale

The Southport supporters have waited for their man Tommy Fleetwood to finish off his opening round.

Packed grandstands, hats and umbrellas up, smells of sun cream everywhere.

Amazing applause rings out all around for Tommy.

Image source, Getty Images

Tommy Fleetwood removes his cap and takes in the acclaim as he strides onto the 18th green with the majority of the huge grandstand cheering him on.

His famous flowing locks are blowing across his face in the strengthening breeze but it can't hind the huge smile on his face as he takes it all in.

You can only imagine what the reception would be like if he's got a shout on Sunday...

Spoiled for choice in Wimborne!

Graeme Storm
Two-time European Tour winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

Scottie Scheffler got himself on the leaderboard early and he has finished a couple under par for the round. He seemed frustrated after what happened on 17. That putt maybe would have made a difference if it dropped.

Bryson DeChambeau has putted nicely today and he has given himself some good chances. He is very upright and straight with those arms whilst putting.

It slid away down the right-hand-side of the hole, but it never surprises you on those links greens. They can break at a certain point and break away from you.

Image source, Reuters