Scottie Scheffler grabs early lead with torrid start at Open Championship

Scottie Scheffler entered the 2026 Open Championship cold after missing the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open for the first time in his last 79 starts, but that performance hasn't carried over to Royal Birkdale Golf Club. 

Scottie Scheffler off to a strong start at The Open Championship

The World No. 1 drained four birdies in his first six holes in the first round to claim the early lead at the 154th Open. After making a par to begin his title defense, Scheffler made back-to-back birdies on the par-4 second hole and the par-4 third. He then made a par on the 225-yard fourth hole and made an easy birdie on the drivable par-4 fifth. 

On the difficult par-4 sixth hole, the Texan drilled a 43-foot putt for birdie to grab the outright lead. 

A sloppy bogey on the par-3 seventh hole dropped Scheffler back to 3 under, but he's still tied for the lead with more than half of his first round left to go.