The particular American returned an unblemished scorecard as he set the club target at eight-under with a bogey-free 64, two shots ahead of 2014 champion Rory McIlroy.
With both golfers teeing off at the Old Course before 10 a. m. nearby time, the set took full benefit of the mild morning winds to race to the front of the 156-player field.
A two-time winner around the Korn Ferry Visit — the PGA Tour’s developmental collection — Young is making his third major debut this season after first looks at the Masters plus PGA Championship. Although missing the cut at the former, the particular 25-year-old starred in Tulsa in May, finishing one shot lacking winner and compatriot Justin Thomas.
Having played the Old Program on a visit together with his family as a 13-year-old, St Andrews holds a “special” put in place Young’s heart.
There may be just no hiding how special of a place it is, ” he told reporters.
“It’s certainly already been a goal to get to a Championship. And for our first one to be here is a little bit extra special for me. inch
However , with first tee times reversed and Young potentially dealing with trickier conditions upon Friday afternoon, the particular American quickly transferred from sentimentality to target ahead of the second round.
“Things can change in an instant, specifically out here given how important the bounces and the mindset which you have are, ” he added.
“I might struggle tomorrow. Who knows? I would shoot 64 again. But I think it could just important for myself to take tomorrow because it comes and do the things i can. ”
‘Settled’ McIlroy in very hot pursuit
McIlroy’s lively round went above his impressive score, with the Northern Irishman striking both an old stone and a viewer en route to carding a six-under 66.
A outrageous start to the 5th hole saw the Northern Irishman’s tee shot bounce off a March Stone — one of several ancient stones around the fairways that mark the boundaries of the first course — before bouncing back having a birdie. Later, certainly one of his stray drives fractured the hand of a PGA Visit employee, who returned to the course in a sling.
Barring a “too cute” 2nd shot that resulted in his sole bogey of the round in the 13th, the four-time major winner had been content with a good day’s work.
“Everything feels quite settled, ” McIlroy told reporters. “No real issues with our game. Everything seems like it’s in good shape… nice quiet, which is a fine way to be.
“I’m pretty good at this game, I think I know what Now i am doing. I just needed to take ownership from it again, ” he or she added.
Amateur mission
Cameron Smith trails the Northern Irishman by a shot, whilst English amateur Barclay Brown provides the choose of the names among the string of golf players tied for fourth at four-under.
Making it in order to St Andrews using a Final Qualifying competition in June, the 21-year-old rapidly became a crowd favorite within the grandstands, as 3 birdies through the shutting seven holes capped a hugely impressive opening round.
“I was unbelievably anxious at the start, ” he admitted to reporters.
“Then once I got with the first couple of holes it had been nice to relax a little bit and strike some good shots and obtain into it. ”
Meanwhile, other Englishman Matt Ford — who told CNN of his decades-long work to qualify for the tournament — impressed in his first main appearance, carding the one-under 71.
Forest struggles
Brown was not even born whenever Tiger Woods won the very first of his 3 Open Championships from St Andrews within 2000, and the youngster seems unlikely to see the American add a fourth in person after Woods endured a difficult opening round.
Carding a 6-over 78 that remaining tied for 146th on his return to the particular clubhouse, the 15-time major winner was roared on non-stop by fans from St Andrews plus received a rapturous reception at the last tee.
Crowds flocked to follow his round and roared each of his three birdies as if he was once more contending at the top of the leaderboard yet, as Woods recognized Wednesday, this is his brand new “difficult” reality.
Although asserting he sensed “a lot stronger” physically, the 46-year-old had been genuine about accepting the newest limits of his body following the severe leg injuries he sustained in a car crash last year.
After teeing away at 2: fifty nine p. m. nearby time, Woods and his two playing companions — compatriot Maximum Homa and recently crowned US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick — failed to finish their round until just over 6 hours later. However , Woods told reporters after his circular that his day had been “a lot easier” on his body than his 2 prior major activities, which included a withdrawal at the PGA Tournament.
“I didn’t really feel like I hit this that bad yet I ended up in bad spots or simply had some strange things happen, ” he said.
“Links is much like that, and this course is like that. I had developed my chances to turn it around and get it rolling the right way and I didn’t get it done. ”
On the St . Andrews support, Woods additional: “They were wonderful, absolutely fantastic. Therefore supportive. ”
By his own recent high standards, Fitzpatrick furthermore endured a difficult evening, bogeying three times to finish even for the opening day. Like Hardwoods though, the British was supported passionately throughout, and a birdie at the 18th in order to card a par-72 ensured a crowd-pleasing finish.
The very first group of Friday’s 2nd round are scheduled to tee away from at 6: 35 a. m. BST (1 a. m. ET), with head Young set to start at 1: 26 g. m. BST (8: 26 a. mirielle. ET).