Southport (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Scottie Scheffler made a steady start to his defence of the British Open with a two under par 68 as a bogey at the last cost Bryson DeChambeau a share of the clubhouse lead at Royal Birkdale.
Issued on: 16/07/2026 - 18:40
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Scottie Scheffler got his defence of the British Open off to a fast start © Adrian Dennis / AFP
Scheffler is two shots back after failing to make the most of a fast start under glorious sunshine and scorching temperatures in England's northwest coast.After his record of 78 successive cuts made dating back four years came to an end at last week's Scottish Open, the world number one looked refreshed with four birdies in five holes between the second and the sixth.But bogeys at the seventh and par-five 17th dropped him back and a birdie putt at the last came to a halt just inches shy of the hole."I got off to a hot start in the round today and wasn't able to make as many birdies as I would have hoped to down the stretch," said Scheffler, who has not won on the PGA Tour since January."If I continue to strike the ball the way I did today and just keep giving myself looks, that's part of it. Golf is played over 72 holes, and I definitely liked what I saw today."
