Scheffler leads early at British Open as LIV Golf players seek breakthrough
Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler opened strong at Royal Birkdale, while LIV Golf members Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau aim for a notable finish.
The British Open began Thursday at Royal Birkdale in England, marking the close of a roughly 100-day stretch of major-championship play. World number one Scottie Scheffler, the tournament's betting favorite, posted a leading score early in the first round despite missing the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open the week before – his first missed cut since 2022. Rory McIlroy, fresh from a top-10 finish in Scotland, was also among the early leaders.
LIV Golf representatives Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau were part of a 15-player LIV contingent, a group that hopes a strong performance could bolster the venture's standing as the season ends. Scheffler and DeChambeau were paired together for the opening two rounds, while McIlroy joined Xander Schauffele and Matt Fitzpatrick in the afternoon tee.
Notable Thursday tee times included Scottie Scheffler at 4:58 a.m. ET, followed by Bryson DeChambeau, and Rory McIlroy at 10:15 a.m. ET. The event will be broadcast on Peacock from 1:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. ET and on USA Network from 4 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET.