Key events<\/p>\n
Matthew Southgate finished in sixth place here at Birkdale in 2017, thanks to a spectacular weekend\u2019s work: 67-65. The 37-year-old from Southend clearly likes this place, because he\u2019s started by draining a putt on 1 from Bob MacIntyre Country. The local lad Matthew Baldwin meanwhile birdies 5 \u2026 but he\u2019s not got a share of the lead, because the aforementioned MacIntyre sticks his second at 2 from 172 yards to a foot and a half, and that\u2019s a birdie-birdie start for last year\u2019s US Open runner-up.<\/p>\n
-2: MacIntyre (2)
-1: Baldwin (5), Detry (5), Southgate (1)<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Bob Mac aside, it\u2019s still a wee while until some of the more fancied stars take to the course. Time for a little scene setting, then. Ladies and gentlemen, on the tee, Ewan Murray \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A fast start for Bob MacIntyre! He sends his opening tee shot into the rough down the left, and only just finds the front of the green with his second. But he rolls in a 45-footer and birdie is not a bad way to start the week! Oban\u2019s finest already has three top-ten finishes at the Open on his resum\u00e9, including a tie for seventh at Portrush last year. Keep an eye out.<\/p>\n -1: Detry (4), MacIntyre (1)<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Joe Dean makes it out of the opening hole with par. His second finds a swale to the left of the green, but he chips up elegantly to kick-in distance. Four groups have gone through this hole now, but Thomas Detry remains the only player to make birdie.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026 Joe Dean sends his opening tee shot into the rough down the right of 1. The 32-year-old from Sheffield has played in the Open twice before, two years ago at Troon and on this very course in 2017. He\u2019s made the cut both times: indeed he bothered the top of the leaderboard on the opening day at Troon, a 69 putting him in a tie for fourth. (He finished tied for 25th.) Dean is here this week after winning that aforementioned Last Chance Qualifier, thanks in no small part to whip-cracking a long iron at the new par-five 14th to three feet for eagle. On the one hand, anything this week will feel like a bonus; on the other, he\u2019s already got a competitive round at Birkdale under his belt this week, so he\u2019ll look to hit the ground running.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The 2010 champion Louis Oosthuizen withdrew at the start of the week. His place has been taken by his compatriot and first alternate Aldrich Potgieter, and the fellow South Africans exchanged texts upon the news breaking. \u201cYou owe me a tonne of beer,\u201d Oosthuizen messaged. \u201cWe\u2019ll get that sorted for him,\u201d Potgieter promised. The young big-hitting Potgieter will be out later, but as for the guy who pipped him at the Open\u2019s first Last Chance Qualifier here at Birkdale on Monday \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The weather. It\u2019s going to be sunny all day. The wind will pick up a little towards the end of the morning. Nothing particularly dramatic, but it\u2019ll inconvenience the later starters more than the early groups, with everything pretty still at the moment.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n James Nicholas putts up from the side of 1. A decent effort that limits the damage to bogey. It\u2019s par for Matthew Baldwin, while the confident drive of Thomas Detry leads to the first birdie of the week: a wedge to eight feet, and a right-to-left slider rolled in. Mixed fortunes for the members of the opening group of the 154th Open Championship!<\/p>\n -1: Detry (1) Share<\/a><\/p>\n James Nicholas is playing in his first Open. The 29-year-old from New York was in the opening group of the US Open last month, and ended up in a tie for 65th. After that wayward drive, he\u2019s forced to chip out sideways from a bush, and can only find a swale to the left of the green with his third. Not the ideal start, and the very first bogey of the week is now on the cards.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The opening tee shot will be taken by Matthew Baldwin. The 40-year-old is born and Southport bred, and started playing golf at the age of three when his grandfather took him out to a local field. A huge ovation as he takes to the tee. A driving iron \u2026 and he sends it down the right-hand side of the fairway. Out of bounds on that side, but he\u2019s nowhere near. As for his partners: Thomas Detry stripes a monster drive, while James Nicholas hooks into nonsense down the left. First tee nerves!<\/p>\n
E: Baldwin (1)
+1: Nicholas (1)<\/p>\n