Englishman Matthew Jordan, a member of the Royal Liverpool Golf Club since the age of seven, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to hit the opening tee shot at the 151st British Open. Despite his drive landing in the rough, Jordan managed to make par with a 14-foot putt. While he is not considered a favorite to win the tournament, he dreams of claiming the winner’s cheque of $3 million, the largest purse in the history of the oldest major championship.
In contrast, Rory McIlroy, the in-form world number two, has a better chance of winning the top prize. Having recently won the Scottish Open, McIlroy is aiming for his fifth major victory, which has been long overdue. He previously won the British Open in 2014 when it was held at Royal Liverpool. McIlroy will be playing alongside his European Ryder Cup teammates Jon Rahm and Justin Rose, with their tee time scheduled for 2:59 p.m. local time.
Among the early starters, American world number one Scottie Scheffler will tee off at 9:47 a.m., just a few minutes before defending champion Cameron Smith. However, the tournament will be missing some notable players. Sergio Garcia, the 2017 Masters champion, failed to qualify for the event, marking the first time in 25 years that he will not be participating. Additionally, Tiger Woods withdrew from the tournament as he continues to recover from ankle surgery.
Last year’s 150th Open Championship was overshadowed by the feud between the PGA and DP World Tours and the rebel LIV Golf Tour. However, the announcement of a merger between their commercial operations in June brought an end to the turmoil. The R&A, the organizer of the British Open, welcomed the partnership agreement and expressed hope for an end to the disruption in the men’s professional game.
In conclusion, Matthew Jordan’s opening tee shot at the 151st British Open marked a significant moment for the Englishman. While he may not be a favorite to win, the tournament holds great importance for him. Rory McIlroy, on the other hand, stands a better chance of claiming the top prize, having recently won the Scottish Open. The absence of Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods is notable, but the merger between the PGA and DP World Tours and the resolution of their feud bring a sense of stability to the event.
