Dan Brown and Im Sung-jae Share Early British Open Lead After Impressive First Rounds, England’s Dan Brown and South Korea’s Im Sung-jae finished the opening round of The Open Championship tied for the lead after both posted impressive four-under-par 66s at a sun-soaked Royal Birkdale on Thursday.

Competing together in the seventh group of the day, the pair made the most of calm morning conditions before stronger winds arrived from the Irish Sea, producing the lowest scores of the early starters.

Defending champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler also enjoyed a strong opening day, carding a two-under 68 as he seeks to become the first player since Padraig Harrington in 2008 to successfully defend The Open title.

Scheffler made an excellent start, collecting four birdies over his opening six holes. However, bogeys at the seventh and 17th prevented him from climbing higher up the leaderboard, leaving him two shots off the pace.

Despite missing opportunities to post an even lower score, the American was encouraged by his overall display.

“I felt like I left a few shots out there, but if I keep striking the ball the way I did today, I’ll be in a good position as the week progresses,” Scheffler said. He also suggested that someone may have accidentally stepped on his ball after an errant approach at the 17th.

Playing alongside Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau bounced back from disappointing performances in this year’s first three major championships with a solid three-under 67. A bogey at the final hole denied him a share of the lead.

DeChambeau ended the day alongside Belgium’s Thomas Detry, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, 2018 Open champion Francesco Molinari and American Alex Smalley on three under par.

Brown delivered one of the most entertaining rounds of the day, recording seven birdies while making just eight pars. Highlights included a long birdie putt at the par-three 12th and an excellent up-and-down save on the 17th.

The Englishman, who also led after the opening round of The Open at Royal Troon in 2024, remained grounded after another fast start.

“It’s only Thursday, so hopefully I’ll still be in contention and playing in one of the later groups over the weekend,” Brown said.

Following England’s heartbreaking World Cup defeat to Argentina on the eve of The Open, home supporters arriving at Royal Birkdale were hoping the country’s golfers could provide a reason to celebrate.

England has not produced an Open champion since Nick Faldo lifted the Claret Jug at Muirfield in 1992, and local favourite Tommy Fleetwood is among those aiming to end that long wait by capturing his maiden major title.

Fleetwood, who grew up near Royal Birkdale and famously found ways to play the course as a youngster, enjoyed tremendous support from the home galleries. He battled to an opening-round one-under-par 69, leaving himself well placed heading into the second round.

It was a far more difficult start for Justin Rose. The 45-year-old, who announced himself on the world stage by finishing fourth as a 17-year-old amateur at Royal Birkdale in 1998, struggled to an opening 75, leaving his hopes of finally claiming The Open title facing an early challenge.

The course itself presented a noticeably different test compared to the last time Royal Birkdale hosted The Open in 2017, when Jordan Spieth claimed victory. Prolonged hot weather and a lack of rainfall have left the layout firmer and faster, with browned fairways replacing the lush conditions seen nine years ago.

Former Open champion Stewart Cink highlighted the dramatic transformation after posting a four-over 74.

“This is not the Birkdale I’ve ever seen before,” Cink said, reflecting on the unusually dry conditions.