Thursday 20 July 2017 22:13, UK
Jordan Spieth carded his lowest round at The Open to hold a share of the lead after the opening day at Royal Birkdale.
Spieth shot a blemish-free, five-under-65 to join fellow American's Brooks Koepka and Matt Kuchar at the top of the leaderboard.
The two-time major winner, who won at the Travelers Championship last month, was particularly pleased with his composure and driving off the tee.
"I drove the ball well which is very important out here," Spieth told Sky Sports. "When I missed my drives I missed them in locations where I could still hit the greens. From the middle of the greens out here you can putt and have a pretty good look at just about any hole.
"Across the board, I would call it 'nine out of 10' and if that's the case it is going to be a really good score. Really nice to be bogey free. I made a few really good par saves and as I made the turn I really wanted to stay bogey free. I thought a couple would come on the back nine but my patience was rewarded."
Despite avoiding a dropped shot on his card, Spieth was grateful for his short-game prowess around the greens, including a good escape on the par-four 10th when he could not find the putting surface with his second shot.
"Ten was one of the only bad swings I made all day," the 23-year-old said. "The second shot landed in a location where I could pop it up and if it ended up going 15 feet past the hole then it was going to be a good shot."
Fortunately, the world No 3 produced an exquisite chip shot before holing his putt for a par and kept the momentum down the stretch of the inward nine. He admitted he was pleased with his putting speed on the greens, which are playing differently to what he is used to on the PGA Tour.
"I am trying to be real adamant about my backstroke," said Spieth. "I am trying to take it back with really good tempo, trying to go a little further back than I would in the States. I am trying to keep the same tempo as in the States and act like it is a five-foot longer putt."
Koepka matched Spieth's 65 and was pleased with how his game fared around the links course, despite having taken a planned four-week break following his US Open victory at Erin Hills last month.
"The game feels good," Koepka told Sky Sports. "I feel sharp, obviously it could have been a little better with the short one missed on 16. But the short game feels really good and the long game feels good and it's nice to get back playing."
The American was not perturbed ahead of his arrival for the third major of the year despite not playing on a links golf course in the lead-up and said he enjoyed the challenge of using his imagination and creativity.
"We had planned to take [the time] off until The Open so it's not a big deal and I felt I have been playing pretty well," said Koepka, who played on the European Tour for two years.
"It just takes a creative mind and sometimes golf can get a bit boring but I see so many shots out here where it's fun and keeps me interested and really gets me going."
Kuchar, who was one of the afternoon starters, benefited from the easier conditions to join his compatriots at the five-under mark thanks to a fast start on the links course.
The 39-year-old made five birdies on his front nine and made steady progress, albeit without any further birdies, down the inward nine to card a blemish free round.
"Regardless of your age, if you're in this field you have a dream to win the title," said Kuchar when reminded that five of the last six Open champions were aged 39 or older.
"I know I've been around a while, but I also feel like I'm in about the prime of my golfing career. I feel like I certainly have as good a chance as anybody."
Justin Thomas, who was notable to the watching galleries for wearing a tie, carded a three-under 67 courtesy in part to an eagle at the par-five 17th after a fantastic approach shot.
The 24-year-old who impressed at the US Open, carding a nine-under 63 tournament record in the third round, was another PGA Tour player who relished the challenge.
"It's so rare in the States where you are not trying to hit a yardage," said Thomas, who was making his second appearance at The Open.
"You just have to feel it. I feel as if I enjoy that aspect of it and think this is a great links course like the rest of them that I have played."
