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As it happenedended

The Open 2019 LIVE leaderbord: Rory McIlroy nine off lead as Shane Lowry leads the way and Tiger Woods begins

Follow the latest scores from the 148th Open Championship as the final major of the year returns to Northern Ireland for the first time in 68 years

Tom Kershaw
Royal Portrush
Thursday 18 July 2019 10:27 EDT
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The Open Championship in numbers

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Follow the latest scores from The Open live as the first day at Royal Portrush gets underway.

The 148th Open Championship returns to Northern Ireland for only the second time in the tournament’s grand history, 68 years after first visiting Portrush in 1951, and features a heavily-packed Irish contingent of Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and plenty others.

But a number of Americans arrive at the final major of the year heading the pecking order, with Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods both hotly fancied after their recent form – the former unstoppable in majors over the last two years and latter claiming his 15th major at the Masters.

But there are plenty of other names in the mix from closer to home, with former world No 1 Justin Rose and in-form Englishman Matt Wallace among those to watch, while Jon Rahm is expected to challenge for his first major victory.

Follow the live scores below.

Latest updates

Please allow a moment for the leaderboard to load.

Windy back nine

Charley Hoffman (-1) and James Sugrue (a) (evs) both in Darren Clarke's (evs) opening group drop shots on the back nine. 

All three players have dropped shots on 16 and 17 mainly due to hitting into the wind. 

Michael Jones18 July 2019 11:00

Fitzpatrick makes a move

A poor start with a bogey on the third hasn't held back Matthew Fitzpatrick (-2) who's been quietly climbing the leaderboard. Birdies on 7, 8 and 12 have moved him within two shots of the lead. 

Michael Jones18 July 2019 11:04

11th hole

Alex Noren's approach to 11 is glorious leaving him with a tap in for birdie. He'll move to 3-under when that goes in. 

10th hole

Webb (-3) starts his back nine well with another birdie, his third, on the tenth.

Michael Jones18 July 2019 11:08

There's been four eagles already today including a hole in one. Here's a look at Kevin Kisner's on the second: 

Michael Jones18 July 2019 11:10

33 for MacIntyre

A bogey on nine brings MacIntyre back to 3-under. But he's gone out in 33 and still leads albeit with five other players.

Michael Jones18 July 2019 11:12

Highs and lows for Pepperell

His last five holes have gone bogey, birdie, bogey, birdie, birdie but Eddie (-3) is still going strong. 

Michael Jones18 July 2019 11:14

Outright lead for Lowry

Shane Lowry (-4) dropped a shot on 11 but made full use of the par-5 12 to get that shot back. 

He now leads outright by one.

Michael Jones18 July 2019 11:15

Opening group ends first round

The opening group finish their first round with pars on the 18th. Charley Hoffman (-1, 70) comes in with the best round but Darren Clarke (evs, 71) and James Sugrue (a) (evs, 71) have been mightily entertaining.

The wind on the back nine caused some problems but it's a decent start for the opening threesome. 

Michael Jones18 July 2019 11:19

G-Mac moves to 2-under after a birdie on the 7th.  

Michael Jones18 July 2019 11:20

American moves

Webb Simpson (-4) takes a share of the lead with back-to-back birdies on the back nine.

A little further back Kevin Kisner (-3) makes a birdie 3 on the fourth to move within one.

Neither player has dropped a shot... yet.

Michael Jones18 July 2019 11:23

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