The Open 2022 stay scoring and first spherical leaderboard: Rory McIlroy surges as Tiger Woods falters

Dustin Johnson joins the large group of gamers on -4 with a birdie on the 18th – all right down to the chip from the left aspect of the inexperienced, that.

Woods and Fitzpatrick each had alternatives on the twelfth however it’s the Englishman who picks up birdie to get again to even par.

McIlroy, after carding a -6 66 right now: “Improbable begin, Simply what you hope will occur while you’re beginning off your week. I did every little thing that you simply’re presupposed to do round St Andrews.

“I birdied the holes I ought to have and I made pars on the holes the place you’re trying to make a par and transfer to the subsequent tee, so general actually happy.

“It’s one other good begin at a significant, three in a row for me now, and I’m trying ahead to the subsequent few days. I have to exit tomorrow and again up what I simply did right now. I believe that’s necessary to do.”

On situations on the Outdated Course, McIlroy added: “It’s the fiddliest Open that I’ve performed. Carnoustie was agency in 2018 however it wasn’t like this. I believe because the match progresses, you’re going to get some humorous bounces and it’s going to check your persistence at instances.

“Fiddly hasn’t actually been my forte through the years, however I’m hopefully going to make it my forte this week.”

Lee Westwood hit again at Tiger Woods on Thursday as the continuing LIV Golf furore solid a shadow over the beginning of the Open at St Andrews.

The European Ryder Cup veteran, who grew to become one of the vital high-profile defectors to the controversial Saudi-backed circuit final month, additionally criticised the media for “stoking up” arguments between individuals on each side of an more and more bitter row.

That got here after Phil Mickelson, one other star LIV signing, confirmed his frustration with reporters after being requested about his personal state of affairs.

Woods mentioned earlier this week that gamers had “turned their again on what allowed them to get to this place” by signing as much as play in LIV’s big-money occasions.

And people feedback didn’t go down properly with Westwood, who reacted following a spherical of 68 this afternoon:

Spieth drops a shot to fall to -1, becoming a member of Rahm.

Woods, Fitzpatrick and Homa proceed to search out issue late within the afternoon on the Outdated Course, battling the tough behind the twelfth inexperienced.

Collin Morikawa joked he grew to become a spectator after his opening spherical of 72 which took virtually six hours to finish.

“I figured it could be gradual, however I didn’t know it could be this gradual,” mentioned the defending champion.

“We have been ready on teams at tees, ready on fairways. Xander [Schauffele] and I talked about it, we’re watching extra golf than we ever have.

“You keep within the fairway and also you’re watching two different teams play golf.”

Scottie Scheffler is again to -4 with a birdie on the par-5 14th that’s proving very worthwhile right now.

He’s joined at that mark by Talor Gooch, who closes with a birdie of his personal at 18 for a spherical of 68.

Any hope of a fightback is halted in its tracks as Woods misses a brief putt and bogeys the eleventh.

It’s not the one bogey of significance. Johnson has simply slipped again to -3 on the fifteenth whereas Spieth is now -1.

Jordan Spieth is compelled to take a penalty drop at 10 after his drive will get suspended in some bracken. He finds the inexperienced along with his third shot however a bogey now beckons.

Rahm has a superb likelihood to assault the flag however his strategy comes up wanting an uphill lie.

Dustin Johnson is making a transfer up the leaderboard. The 2-time main champion has birdied 11, 12 and 14 and is now -4.

It’s nothing greater than a tap-in birdie for Woods at 10 and he’s again to +4 now.

Spieth and Rahm each make par at 9 and keep at -2 and -1 respectively.