The Open Championship 2025: Ryan Fox off pace, Daniel Hillier shoots even in opening round

Ryan Fox will have to go low tomorrow to keep his cut streak at majors alive after a bumpy start to Open Championship at Royal Portrush, while fellow Kiwi Daniel Hillier had a better day in windy conditions.

Fox opened with a four-over 75 after recording five bogeys on his opening six holes, currently eight shots back from a five-way share of the lead.

Hillier looks in a much stronger contention following an even-par 71.

Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick, who was playing with Fox, shares the lead with Jacob Skov Olelsen (Norway), Haotong Li (China), Harris English (USA) and Christiaan Bezuidenhout (South Africa).

Three-time major winner and world No 1 Scottie Scheffler is a shot back after opening with a 68.

This year’s Masters champion, Rory McIlroy, is currently one-under through 17 holes after sitting at three-under earlier in his round.

Notable names who recorded under-par rounds include Tyrrell Hatton (three-under), Lee Westwood (two-under), Rickie Fowler (two-under), Brian Harman (two-under), Justin Rose (two-under), Phil Mickelson (one-under), Jon Rahm (one-under), Shane Lowry (one-under) and Sergio Garcia (one-under).

New Zealand Open winner Ryan Peake, playing in his first major, shot a six-over 77.

Fox came into the Open Championship with high expectations, having picked up wins at the Myrtle Beach Classic and the Canadian Open, while his best finish at the British major was when it was last played at the Northern Irish links course in 2019.

He’s also made the cut at the last 10 majors, stretching back to the 2022 Open Championship when he didn’t play the weekend.

However, he struggled from the start, hitting off the back of the first green and failing to get an up and down. A missed birdie chance at the par five second was then followed by four straight bogeys to see Fox slip to five-over through six holes.

His first birdie of the day came at the par five seventh when an eagle putt just fell short.

Fox played even-par for the remaining 11 holes with a bogey at the 11th and a second birdie at the par three 13th, with a five metre putt, leaving him in 119th place. He tees off at 1.26am tomorrow to begin his second round.

Hillier had a bogey-birdie-bogey start to sit at one-under through the first nine before holing an almost five metre putt for eagle at the par five 12th.

His only blemish on the back nine was a bogey at the 14th that brought him back to even, leaving him in a share of 37th.

The former British Masters champion is out in the third group of the day, beginning his second round at 5.57pm.

Two-time US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau did not have one birdie in a seven-over 78, putting him in a share of 146th in the 156-man field.