The highly anticipated 2024 Open Championship, the final major of the golf season, began Thursday morning at the historic Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. As players embarked on their quest for the prestigious Claret Jug, the unpredictable weather conditions added an extra layer of challenge to the already demanding course. With inclement weather expected throughout the week, the leaderboard could see significant shifts influenced by the elements each player encounters.
Early Morning Tee-Offs Set the Stage at Royal Troon
The first round started early, with players teeing off from as early as 1:35 a.m. ET. Among the notable early starters was Jon Rahm, a two-time major champion, who began his campaign alongside fellow Europeans Tommy Fleetwood and Robert MacIntyre at 4:36 a.m. ET. Rahm, known for his aggressive play and strategic approach, is a strong contender for this year’s title. Fleetwood and MacIntyre, both formidable players in their own right, are expected to put up a strong fight.
Following closely were Ludvig Åberg, Bryson DeChambeau, and Tom Kim at 4:47 a.m. DeChambeau, the 2020 U.S. Open champion, is known for his unconventional style and power, while Kim and Åberg bring youthful energy and determination to the mix.
The reigning Champion Golfer of the Year, Brian Harman, teed off at 4:58 a.m. with Viktor Hovland and Sahith Theegala. Hovland, who has been in excellent form recently, and Theegala, a rising star, are expected to pose a significant challenge to the rest of the field.
Rory McIlroy’s Quest for Major Number Four
Rory McIlroy, one of the most celebrated golfers of his generation, began his quest for a fourth major title at 5:09 a.m. ET, accompanied by Max Homa and Tyrrell Hatton. McIlroy, whose last major win came in 2014, is determined to end his decade-long major drought. Homa and Hatton, both known for their consistency and competitiveness, will be interesting players to watch alongside McIlroy.
As the morning progressed, other notable groups took to the course. Keegan Bradley, Will Zalatoris, and Gordon Sargent teed off at 5:20 a.m., followed by Harris English, Maverick McNealy, and Alexander Bjork at 5:31 a.m. The variety of playing styles and strategies in these groups added to the dynamic start of the tournament.
The Afternoon Brings More Stars to the Course
The excitement continued into the afternoon with some of the biggest names in golf hitting the links. Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka, paired with Wyndham Clark and Hideki Matsuyama, teed off at 9:26 a.m. Koepka, known for his dominance in major tournaments, is always a strong contender.
At 9:37 a.m., the spotlight turned to Tiger Woods, who was joined by Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay. Woods, despite his recent struggles with injuries, remains a fan favorite and a formidable competitor. Schauffele, the 2024 PGA Championship winner, and Cantlay, known for his steady play, round out this star-studded group.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler teed off at 10:10 a.m. with Jordan Spieth and Cameron Young. Scheffler, who has had a stellar year, is aiming to add another major to his resume. Spieth, a three-time major winner, and Young, a promising talent, are expected to push Scheffler in this competitive group.
Notable Moments and Early Leaders
As the day unfolded, several players made early moves to position themselves at the top of the leaderboard. Matt Wallace made headlines with a spectacular eagle on the par-5 fourth hole, holing out from 85 yards. This shot propelled him into an early share of the lead at 3-under. Wallace, seeking his first major championship, showcased his skill and determination with this impressive play.
Younghan Song also had a strong start, making the turn at 3-under and briefly holding a share of the lead. Song’s birdie on the eighth hole, known as the “postage stamp,” was particularly notable. The challenging hole, with its narrow green and protective bunkers, tested many players, but Song’s precision earned him a valuable birdie.
How to Follow the Action
Golf fans can catch all the action from the 2024 Open Championship live on NBC and USA Network. Additionally, NBC’s Peacock streaming service offers comprehensive coverage, including live streams of featured groups and key moments. The broadcast schedule for Thursday is as follows (all times Eastern):
- 1:30 a.m. – 4 a.m.: Peacock
- 4 a.m. – 3 p.m.: USA Network
- 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.: Peacock
For those who prefer streaming, Peacock and Fubo offer live coverage and featured groups, ensuring that fans don’t miss a moment of the excitement from Royal Troon.
Full Slate of Thursday Tee Times and Pairings
The first round of The Open features a diverse and talented field, with tee times spanning from the early hours of the morning into the afternoon. Here is the complete list of Thursday’s pairings (all times Eastern):
- 1:35 a.m. — Justin Leonard, Todd Hamilton, Jack McDonald
- 1:46 a.m. — Alex Noren, Tom McKibbin, Calum Scott
- 1:57 a.m. — Jesper Svensson, Vincent Norrman, Michael Hendry
- 2:08 a.m. — Younghan Song, Daniel Hillier, Ryosuke Kinoshita
- 2:19 a.m. — Min Woo Lee, Ryo Hisatsune, Abraham Ancer
- 2:30 a.m. — Nicolai Hojgaard, Adam Scott, Keita Nakajima
- 2:41 a.m. — Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose, Jasper Stubbs
- 2:52 a.m. — Justin Thomas, Sungjae Im, Matthew Southgate
- 3:03 a.m. — Nick Taylor, Matt Wallace, Laurie Canter
- 3:14 a.m. — Sebastian Soderberg, Matteo Manassero, Shubhankar Sharma
- 3:25 a.m. — Zach Johnson, Austin Eckroat, Thorbjorn Olesen
- 3:36 a.m. — John Daly, Santiago De La Fuente, Aaron Rai
- 3:47 a.m. — Stewart Cink, Chris Kirk, Dominic Clemons
- 4:03 a.m. — Stephan Jaeger, Adam Schenk, Joaquin Niemann
- 4:14 a.m. — Adam Hadwin, Lucas Glover, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
- 4:25 a.m. — Tony Finau, Russell Henley, Matthieu Pavon
- 4:36 a.m. — Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre
- 4:47 a.m. — Ludvig Åberg, Bryson DeChambeau, Tom Kim
- 4:58 a.m. — Brian Harman, Viktor Hovland, Sahith Theegala
- 5:09 a.m. — Rory McIlroy, Max Homa, Tyrrell Hatton
- 5:20 a.m. — Keegan Bradley, Will Zalatoris, Gordon Sargent
- 5:31 a.m. — Harris English, Maverick McNealy, Alexander Bjork
- 5:42 a.m. — Guido Migliozzi, Sean Crocker, Tommy Morrison
- 5:53 a.m. — David Puig, John Catlin, Gun-Taek Koh
- 6:04 a.m. — Thriston Lawrence, Daniel Bradbury, Elvis Smylie
- 6:15 a.m. — Nacho Elvira, Minkyu Kim, Darren Fichardt
- 6:26 a.m. — Mason Andersen, Masahiro Kawamura, Sam Hutsby
- 6:47 a.m. — Ewen Ferguson, Marcel Siem
- 6:58 a.m. — CT Pan, Romain Langasque, Yuto Katsuragawa
- 7:09 a.m. — Rikuya Hoshino, Angel Hidalgo, Richard Mansell
- 7:20 a.m. — Corey Conners, Ryan Fox, Jorge Campillo
- 7:31 a.m. — Ernie Els, Gary Woodland, Altin Van Der Merwe
- 7:42 a.m. — Henrik Stenson, Rasmus Hojgaard, Jacob Skov Olesen
- 7:53 a.m. — Louis Oosthuizen, Billy Horschel, Victor Perez
- 8:04 a.m. — Sepp Straka, Brendon Todd, Jordan Smith
- 8:15 a.m. — Denny McCarthy, Taylor Moore, Adrian Meronk
- 8:26 a.m. — Jason Day, Byeong Hun An, Rickie Fowler
- 8:37 a.m. — Alex Cejka, Eric Cole, Kurt Kitayama
- 8:48 a.m. — Darren Clarke, JT Poston, Dean Burmester
- 9:04 a.m. — Phil Mickelson, Joost Luiten, Dustin Johnson
- 9:15 a.m. — Padraig Harrington, Davis Thompson, Matthew Jordan
- 9:26 a.m. — Wyndham Clark, Hideki Matsuyama, Brooks Ko
