The Open: NI star takes share of lead after bouncing back from opening bogey with hot streak
Tom, on the other hand...
Has another great look at birdie on 10 as he takes aim at this narrow par-four green and arrows one just short of the pin, leaving him around 10 feet for what would be four-under in his last four holes.
Nicolai Højgaard is also on the dance floor but he has a longer look at birdie and an awkward slope to come over just in front of the hole. Advantage McKibbin.
one minute ago
Gareth Hanna
Life-changing money on offer?
The winner's cheque this week will be made out for £2.3M. Tom McKibbin (22) will have his eyes on that prize after his promising start, but it won't be for the money. He's already earned £4M this year since his move to the contentious, Saudi-backed LIV Golf.
6 minutes ago
Pádraig's problems persist
A bit of clever alliteration but not a good situation for the Irishman as he pushes his drive off the par-four 10th tee and now has a group of about 15 people looking for the ball and they still can't find it.
Eventually they have to call it - lost ball, he's away back to the tee to hit his third.
7 minutes ago
Gareth Hanna
Pin locations for day one
An unashamed post for the golf nerds here - the pin sheet for today's setup.
11 minutes ago
'There may only be seven players under par but I'm impressed at the scoring so far because being out on the course you can feel how the wind is causing a lot of problems, especially on the par-threes - the afternoon wave could be in for a really punishing day.'
Belfast Telegraph sports reporter Adam McKendry
17 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
New leader!
And it's this man! Newtownabbey's Tom McKibbin rolls in the birdie putt confidently on the ninth and he joins playing partner Nicolai Højgaard at -2!
Højgaard makes the up and down for par to remain tied at the top, while Pádraig Harrington holes for par as well to stay at +2, although he was worryingly close to another three-putt there.
McKibbin in the mood
His drive on the ninth finds the rough to the right of the fairway but his follow up shot is exceptional, bouncing it short of the green and rolling up to around five feet for a birdie that would tie the lead given Nicolai Højgaard has missed the green with his second after also finding rough off the tee.
This has been a remarkable bounce back from McKibbin after his first three holes. He looks very composed out there.
31 minutes ago
Par it is
McKibbin can't convert the birdie putt on eight so he remains -1, with Højgaard doing likewise to remain one clear at -2.
It's another bogey for Pádraig, though, and a third three-putt of the round already as he drops back to +2. That one will hurt most of all as he completely misread the first putt from just short of the green, pushing it way right and leaving him too much to do with his comebacker.
36 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
Harrington battling
The two-time Open champion isn't having things his own way as he misjudges the approach into the par-four eighth and leaves it short. After his hot start, he's really cooled off since and can't get anything going.
Tom McKibbin is on the green in two after piping another one down the middle, with his approach earning a "Good shot" remark from Pádraig. He's looking to join Højgaard, who has a longer birdie putt, at the top.
48 minutes ago
How it stands
First group going along nicely. Keeping good pace, too.
50 minutes ago
The eagle lands!!
Lovely putt from McKibbin up and over the ridge, right to left, and in she drops! After a rocky start, he's now three-under for his last three holes and up to -1!
That would be a share of the lead if it wasn't for Nicolai Højgaard getting up and down from the left of the green for birdie and he's reassumed the solo lead at -2!
Harrington, meanwhile, scrambles for his par which is not a bad outcome after that drive. Still +1.
59 minutes ago
Adam McKendry
The roar carries
We could hear that roar for Phil's bunker shot all the way down on 7, where Tom McKibbin got a loud ovation after crushing his drive down the middle. He'll have a great chance to go for the green and maybe set up an eagle chance.
Pádraig Harrington has had to lay up after finding the fairway bunker.
Things are fun in this group - McKibbin and Højgaard in particular are having a good few laughs.
Today 07:13 AM
A beautiful noise
The Open on Twitter / X
First tee shot. First birdie of the day.Padraig Harrington is off to a strong start. pic.twitter.com/2KocjHdbcu— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025
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Today 07:11 AM
Gareth Hanna
He'd pay for that in my fourball...
Phil Mickelson won't be under par for long. His tee shot on the 176-yard par three third was plugged in the face of the front bunker, and he can't get it out of the trap. In my fourball, that would be 50p to every other player for not escaping the bunker.
OH BUT WAIT! He WILL be under par for long. He's only gone and holed his next bunker shot for a glorious par!!
He'd still owe 50p though...
The Open on Twitter / X
A short game masterclass.Mickelson holes out from the sand. pic.twitter.com/hEX1brav4i— The Open (@TheOpen) July 17, 2025
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Today 07:08 AM
Gareth Hanna
Louis, Louis - oh baby!
Oosthuizen becomes the first man to drive the par four fifth green. It's 372 yards but all downhill. Get the line right and these boys can get it there. Super shot on what is the most picturesque point on the course. He misses the eagle try up the hill but it's a two-putt bird and he's back to level par.
Back at one, Darren Clarke has a two-putt par to get his Open off to a steady start.
(Kudos to those who recognised the Kinks reference in the title of this one.)
Today 07:06 AM
Pars all round
The sixth is going to be another really tricky hole with the wind blowing directly left to right across the green but the lead group navigate it well, all of them hitting the green with their tee shots and two putting from range.
Not much more to add - on to the seventh and a potential birdie chance!
Today 07:05 AM
Gareth Hanna
Mickelson in the red!
A birdie on the second gets the LIV Golf player into red figures, joining Nicolai Hojgaard and Jacob Skov Olesen at the top.
And Lucas Herbert who rallies in a long putt on the first. It smashed the back of the cup.
It could be this golf legend's last time playing in NI – why you should catch him while you still can
Phil Mickelson made scores of Northern Ireland kids happy on Tuesday.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Today 06:56 AM
Adam McKendry
Birdie for McKibbin
The Newtownabbey man is on the board! A nice curling putt from right to left and he's back up to +1.
Harrington tidies up nicely for par to remain on the same score but Højgaard continues to look impressive as he leaves his first chip in the rough but then holes from 15 feet to save par after his second pitch shot.
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