Suber takes narrow lead into second round of The Open Championship
The 26-year-old American holds a one-shot advantage at Royal Birkdale after a surprise opening 65, while Rory McIlroy faces elimination after a poor start.
Jackson Suber has seized a one-shot lead into the second round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, following a 5-under 65 in the opening round. The 26-year-old American, who had not previously won on the PGA Tour and had not visited Europe prior to this tournament, posted a score that surprised many observers given his lack of prior major success. His performance places him at the top of the leaderboard heading into Friday’s play.
A large group of contenders trails Suber, including Bryson DeChambeau, Sungjae Im, and Daniel Brown. Im and Brown each carded 4-under scores to position themselves within striking distance. DeChambeau, a LIV Golf star, leads the group at 3-under. This performance marks a significant shift for DeChambeau, who had not made the cut at a major championship in 2026 and had not recorded a sub-par round in a major before Thursday’s play.
Conversely, Rory McIlroy is in a precarious position after carding a 2-over 72 on Thursday. The Irish star trails significantly and risks elimination if he fails to improve his score in the second round. McIlroy is scheduled to tee off at 5:09 a.m. alongside Xander Schauffele and Matt Fitzpatrick.
Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler remains in contention at 2-under. He is scheduled to tee off late on Friday alongside DeChambeau. The weather forecast for Friday is described as favourable, with great weather expected for the second round, which could influence the pace and outcomes of play.
The second round coverage on USA Network runs from 4 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. The field will be tested as Suber attempts to maintain his narrow advantage against a chasing pack that includes several of the game’s most prominent figures.
