JB Holmes holds a one shot lead, while Rory McIlroy's first and last holes book-ended a terrible first round at Royal Portrush.
2014 Open champion McIlroy holed a quadruple bogey on the first hole and triple bogey at the 18th, all but ending his hopes of ending his five-year wait for a major in his home country of Northern Ireland.
His tee shot off the first - a where he received rapturous applause - went wide left out of bounds, making eight on that hole.
Memories of his final-round collapse at the 2011 Masters were evoked on the back nine with a double bogey at 16 and a triple bogey at 18.
The quadruple at the first was his first in a major since the 2013 US Open.
His round of eight-over-par 79 equates to one shot more per hole than the County Antrim course's record of 61 that McIlroy set when he was 16.
13 strokes ahead is JB Holmes who shot a five-under 66.
His previous best at the Open was third in 2016, the American took the lead from Irishman Shane Lowry who carded 67.
The 32-year-old set the early standard with five birdies and only one dropped shot for four-under.
Royal Portrush is expecting 237,750 spectators over the week - a record attendance for an Open outside of St Andrews - eclipsing the 235,000 who attended Royal Birkdale in 2017.
Those watching experienced a variety of conditions including wind and bright sunshine, then swirling showers before the sun returned for the final groups.
Four-time major winner Brooks Koepka is in a group of thirteen tied for third on three under, including two-time runner-up Sergio Garcia, Englishmen Lee Westwood, Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrell Hatton and Ryan Fox.
The New Zealander recorded 29 coming in - the lowest total of a back nine in Open history.
If world number one Koepka or a compatriot wins the title it will be the first time since 1982 that all four majors in a calendar year have all been won by Americans.
Two American legends of the game are facing a fight to make the cut after poor starts.
2013 Open champion Phil Mickelson is five over while Master champion Tiger Woods is two shots further adrift.
15-time major winner Woods carded six bogeys and a double bogey in a round of 78, but his reaction to the crowd sinking his only birdie at the 15th showed he still had his sense of humour on a poor day.
Having had a number of back operations in recent years, Woods revealed he was "sore" during the round and would be receiving treatment before Friday's play.
World number four Justin Rose is on two under while 2017 champion Jordan Spieth is one further back.
Northern Irishman Darren Clarke drove the first shot of the tournament, greeted by a large crowd at 6:35 am at the course which is hosting the Open for the first time in 68 years.
Defending champion Francesco Milonari struggled, finishing on three over after three bogeys and a double bogey in his first thirteen holes.
Local boy Graeme McDowell was three under after a birdie at the 14th, before a triple bogey on 18 meant he finished two over.
Argentine Emiliano Grillo sunk the first hole-in-one of the championship at the 200-yard par-three 13th, before 2001 champion David Duval shot a 14 after hitting the wrong ball from the rough and having to restart.
A triple bogey at the 17th for the 47-year-old meant he ended on 20 over after a round of 91 - the tournament's worst round in 22 years.
Day One Leaderboard
-5 JB Holmes (USA)
-4 S Lowry (IRE), J Rahm (SPN)
-3 A Noren (SWE), W Simpson (USA), S Garcia (SPN), D Frittelli (SA), R MacIntyre (SCO), K Aphibarnrat (THA), R Fox (NZ), T Hatton (ENG), L Westwood (ENG), T Fleetwood (ENG), B Koepka (USA), T Finau (USA), Y Inamori (JPN)
-2 J Rose (ENG)
-1 R Fowler (USA), J Day (AUS), J Spieth (USA)
+3 F Molinari (ITA), D Willett (ENG)
+5 P Mickelson (USA)
+7 T Woods (USA)
+8 R McIlroy (NIR)
+20 D Duval (USA)
MASTERS
Day One Report
Day Two Report
Day Three Report
Day Four Report
US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Day One Report
Day Two Report
Day Three Report
Day Four Report
US OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Day One Report
Day Two Report
Day Three Report
Day Four Report
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| Photo from iNews |
His tee shot off the first - a where he received rapturous applause - went wide left out of bounds, making eight on that hole.
Memories of his final-round collapse at the 2011 Masters were evoked on the back nine with a double bogey at 16 and a triple bogey at 18.
The quadruple at the first was his first in a major since the 2013 US Open.
His round of eight-over-par 79 equates to one shot more per hole than the County Antrim course's record of 61 that McIlroy set when he was 16.
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| Photo from Sporting News |
His previous best at the Open was third in 2016, the American took the lead from Irishman Shane Lowry who carded 67.
The 32-year-old set the early standard with five birdies and only one dropped shot for four-under.
Royal Portrush is expecting 237,750 spectators over the week - a record attendance for an Open outside of St Andrews - eclipsing the 235,000 who attended Royal Birkdale in 2017.
Those watching experienced a variety of conditions including wind and bright sunshine, then swirling showers before the sun returned for the final groups.
Four-time major winner Brooks Koepka is in a group of thirteen tied for third on three under, including two-time runner-up Sergio Garcia, Englishmen Lee Westwood, Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrell Hatton and Ryan Fox.
The New Zealander recorded 29 coming in - the lowest total of a back nine in Open history.
If world number one Koepka or a compatriot wins the title it will be the first time since 1982 that all four majors in a calendar year have all been won by Americans.
Two American legends of the game are facing a fight to make the cut after poor starts.
2013 Open champion Phil Mickelson is five over while Master champion Tiger Woods is two shots further adrift.
15-time major winner Woods carded six bogeys and a double bogey in a round of 78, but his reaction to the crowd sinking his only birdie at the 15th showed he still had his sense of humour on a poor day.
Having had a number of back operations in recent years, Woods revealed he was "sore" during the round and would be receiving treatment before Friday's play.
World number four Justin Rose is on two under while 2017 champion Jordan Spieth is one further back.
Northern Irishman Darren Clarke drove the first shot of the tournament, greeted by a large crowd at 6:35 am at the course which is hosting the Open for the first time in 68 years.
Defending champion Francesco Milonari struggled, finishing on three over after three bogeys and a double bogey in his first thirteen holes.
Local boy Graeme McDowell was three under after a birdie at the 14th, before a triple bogey on 18 meant he finished two over.
Argentine Emiliano Grillo sunk the first hole-in-one of the championship at the 200-yard par-three 13th, before 2001 champion David Duval shot a 14 after hitting the wrong ball from the rough and having to restart.
A triple bogey at the 17th for the 47-year-old meant he ended on 20 over after a round of 91 - the tournament's worst round in 22 years.
Day One Leaderboard
-5 JB Holmes (USA)
-4 S Lowry (IRE), J Rahm (SPN)
-3 A Noren (SWE), W Simpson (USA), S Garcia (SPN), D Frittelli (SA), R MacIntyre (SCO), K Aphibarnrat (THA), R Fox (NZ), T Hatton (ENG), L Westwood (ENG), T Fleetwood (ENG), B Koepka (USA), T Finau (USA), Y Inamori (JPN)
-2 J Rose (ENG)
-1 R Fowler (USA), J Day (AUS), J Spieth (USA)
+3 F Molinari (ITA), D Willett (ENG)
+5 P Mickelson (USA)
+7 T Woods (USA)
+8 R McIlroy (NIR)
+20 D Duval (USA)
MASTERS
Day One Report
Day Two Report
Day Three Report
Day Four Report
US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Day One Report
Day Two Report
Day Three Report
Day Four Report
US OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Day One Report
Day Two Report
Day Three Report
Day Four Report
Never miss a post - enter your email address in the box on the right!
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