THE OPEN DIARY: Brooks Koepka makes his point to Patrick Cantlay again, Sahith Theegala mistaken for Tony Finau and local snubs £30,000 to rent out her house
- Brooks Koepka and Patrick Cantlay resumed acquaintances at Hoylake
- Sahith Theegala has been mistaken for Tony Finau by fans at The Open
- There is money to be made by locals as accommodation is always at a premium
Tommy Fleetwood rode a wave of home support to the top of the leaderboard in pursuit of a first major title in the 151st Open Championship.
Roared on by a partisan crowd at Royal Liverpool, the 32-year-old from Southport carded an opening 66 to share the clubhouse lead with South African amateur Christo Lamprecht and Emiliano Grillo on five under par.
France’s Antoine Rozner and Spain’s Adrian Otaegui were a shot behind, with former champion Stewart Cink – who denied Tom Watson a fairytale victory at Turnberry in 2009 – on three under alongside US Open champion Wyndham Clark and Alex Noren.
Fleetwood revelled in the support of the large galleries in what will be an emotional week, with Friday marking the first anniversary of the death of his mother Sue.
Mail Sport’s Ian Ladyman rounds up some of the major talking points on Thursday.
Brooks Koepka heads to the next tee as Patrick Cantlay reads his putt on the third green
Koepka makes his point again
Brooks Koepka and Patrick Cantlay resumed acquaintance after falling out at the Masters over the time Cantlay takes to play his shots.
No great drama this time but Koepka did head for the next tee on holes three and four while Cantlay was still reading his putts.
Point made. Again
Local snubs £30k offer
Accommodation is always at a premium at the Open so many fans are staying in Liverpool and taking the train to the course.
There is money to be made by locals, though. One chap was heard boasting that renting out his house had paid for a new roof.
A lady, meanwhile, was offered £30,000 for her four-bed pile and turned it down
MacIntyre backs Weir’s foundation
Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir lost his battle with motor neurone disease last year but he has not been forgotten.
His compatriot Bob MacIntyre — who almost won the Scottish Open last week — was raising money for Weir’s foundation at the USPGA two months ago and is carrying its name — My Name’5 Doddie Foundation — on his golf bag this week.
The Open continues to do its bit for sustainability, offering free water refills to fans in a bid to cut down on plastic use.
The catering stalls are also offering plant-based burgers.
Theegala mistaken for Tony Finau
Sahith Theegala (left) has been mistaken for Tony Finau (right) by fans at The Open
Sahith Theegala is not a household name — despite a world ranking of 35 — yet he has still been asked to sign his share of autographs this week.
‘Some of the fans mistake him for Tony Finau,’ said a marshall.
It may not be an inconvenience that Theegala has for long.
He shot 79 and faces a battle to make the cut.