The 154th Open Championship is under way at Royal Birkdale in Southport, and it is an unfamiliar name sitting atop The Open Championship 2026 leaderboard after the opening round.
American Jackson Suber fired a five-under 65 to lead by one shot from Sungjae Im and defending champion Dan Brown, with just 24 of the 156 players in the field finishing under par on a firm and demanding links track.
The Open Championship 2026 Leaderboard: Top 40 After Round 1
Royal Birkdale showed its teeth on Thursday despite relatively calm conditions, with the baked-out fairways and slick greens proving a stern test for the world’s best players. Here is where the leading contenders stand after 18 holes.
| Pos | Player | Country | R1 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson Suber | USA | 65 | -5 |
| T2 | Sungjae Im | South Korea | 66 | -4 |
| T2 | Dan Brown | England | 66 | -4 |
| T4 | Pierceson Coody | USA | 67 | -3 |
| T4 | Cameron Young | USA | 67 | -3 |
| T4 | Thomas Detry | Belgium | 67 | -3 |
| T4 | Robert MacIntyre | Scotland | 67 | -3 |
| T4 | Francesco Molinari | Italy | 67 | -3 |
| T4 | Alex Smalley | USA | 67 | -3 |
| T4 | Bryson DeChambeau | USA | 67 | -3 |
| T4 | Ryan Gerard | USA | 67 | -3 |
| T4 | MJ Daffue | South Africa | 67 | -3 |
| T13 | Scottie Scheffler | USA | 68 | -2 |
| T13 | Collin Morikawa | USA | 68 | -2 |
| T13 | Sepp Straka | Austria | 68 | -2 |
| T13 | Bud Cauley | USA | 68 | -2 |
| T13 | Henrik Stenson | Sweden | 68 | -2 |
| T13 | Jordan Smith | England | 68 | -2 |
| T13 | Victor Perez | France | 68 | -2 |
| T13 | Joakim Lagergren | Sweden | 68 | -2 |
| T13 | Ryo Hisatsune | Japan | 68 | -2 |
| T13 | Si Woo Kim | South Korea | 68 | -2 |
| T13 | Nick Taylor | Canada | 68 | -2 |
| T24 | Shane Lowry | Ireland | 69 | -1 |
| T24 | Tyrrell Hatton | England | 69 | -1 |
| T24 | Tommy Fleetwood | England | 69 | -1 |
| T24 | Jon Rahm | Spain | 69 | -1 |
| T24 | Keegan Bradley | USA | 69 | -1 |
| T24 | Aldrich Potgieter | South Africa | 69 | -1 |
| T24 | Kristoffer Reitan | Norway | 69 | -1 |
| T24 | Matt Wallace | England | 69 | -1 |
| T24 | Laurie Canter | England | 69 | -1 |
| T24 | Kurt Kitayama | USA | 69 | -1 |
| T24 | Shaun Norris | South Africa | 69 | -1 |
| T24 | Alex Fitzpatrick | England | 69 | -1 |
| T24 | Matthew Southgate | England | 69 | -1 |
| T24 | Ben Griffin | USA | 69 | -1 |
| T24 | Antoine Rozner | France | 69 | -1 |
The cut falls after 36 holes, with the top 70 players and ties advancing to the weekend rounds.
The Open Championship 2026 Leaderboard: Key Storylines from Round 1
- Jackson Suber fired a brilliant 5-under 65 to take the Round 1 lead at The Open Championship 2026.
- The 26-year-old, ranked World No. 115, is playing his first Open Championship and his first tournament in Europe.
- Suber only played his first-ever round of links golf on Monday after arriving in England.
- An eagle at the par-5 17th lifted Suber to the outright lead at 5-under.
- His strong long-iron play and ability to chip from tight links turf proved crucial at Royal Birkdale.
- Suber is sharing accommodation with Pierceson Coody, who also impressed with a 3-under 67 in his Open debut.
- Defending champion Scottie Scheffler opened with a 2-under 68, remaining firmly in contention.
- Scheffler is chasing a second consecutive Open title and a fifth major championship in as many seasons.
- Bryson DeChambeau and Robert MacIntyre are among the players tied for fourth at 3-under.
- Collin Morikawa posted 2-under despite continuing to manage a back injury.
- England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood both finished the opening round at 1-under.
- Fleetwood, a local favourite with strong links experience, remains well placed heading into Round 2.
- Rory McIlroy struggled to a 2-over 72, finishing seven shots behind the leader after a poor day on the greens.
- Wyndham Clark (+3) and Xander Schauffele (+1) also have work to do after difficult opening rounds.
- Just 24 of the 156 players finished under par, underlining the difficulty of Royal Birkdale.
- The morning wave enjoyed calmer conditions, with nine of the 12 players at 3-under or better teeing off before the afternoon breeze strengthened.
Australian Players at The Open Championship 2026
Seven Australians are competing at Royal Birkdale this week, ranging from former champion Cameron Smith to debutant Cameron John. Here is how each player fared in the opening round.
| Player | Pos | R1 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min Woo Lee | T39 | 70 | E |
| Lucas Herbert | T39 | 70 | E |
| Cameron John | T39 | 70 | E |
| Travis Smyth | T60 | 71 | +1 |
| Adam Scott | T85 | 72 | +2 |
| Jason Day | T106 | 73 | +3 |
| Cameron Smith | T106 | 73 | +3 |
Min Woo Lee (T39, E, 70)
- Best-placed Australian after a level-par 70, a solid if unspectacular start given his brilliant 2026 form
- Won his maiden PGA Tour title at the Houston Open earlier this season and is yet to miss a cut this year
- Grouped with Hideki Matsuyama and Ben Griffin, the West Australian kept his card clean enough to remain within striking distance heading into Round 2
Lucas Herbert (T39, E, 70)
- Matched Lee’s even-par effort in a composed opening round
- Has previous Open Championship experience and knows how to navigate links conditions
Cameron John (T39, E, 70)
- Playing in his first ever major championship after earning his spot through the Open Qualifying Series
- Arrived at Royal Birkdale off a brilliant domestic summer that included multiple wins on the PGA Tour of Australasia
- Shooting level par on debut at a venue this demanding is an encouraging sign
Travis Smyth (T60, +1, 71)
- Sits one over after a 71, well inside the projected cut line
- In a healthy position to push forward on Friday
Adam Scott (T85, +2, 72)
- Now 45 and competing in his 98th consecutive major championship, the 2013 Masters champion battled to a two-over 72
- Qualified for this Open through the Australian Open and will need a low second round to stay in realistic weekend contention
Jason Day (T106, +3, 73)
- Grouped with Justin Thomas and Alex Noren, Day was unable to find his best on a course that should suit his ball-striking ability
- Has significant ground to make up on Friday
Cameron Smith (T106, +3, 73)
- The 2022 Open champion who lifted the Claret Jug at St Andrews has endured a difficult stretch of form in recent seasons
- Will be desperate to find improvement on Friday to avoid an early exit
All seven Australians remain in the field heading into Round 2, though Day and Smith in particular will be watching the cut line closely.
The Open Championship 2026 Leaderboard: What to Watch in Round 2
Friday’s forecast calls for more sunshine with winds between 10 and 15 mph and a high of 25°C, similar to Thursday’s conditions. The draw will again play a role, with morning starters potentially benefiting from calmer early conditions before the breeze strengthens.
All eyes will be on whether Suber can back up his opening 65 or whether the pressure of leading a major takes its toll. The chasing pack is packed with proven major performers, and with Scheffler, DeChambeau, Morikawa and MacIntyre all within three shots, the weekend promises to be fiercely competitive.
For Australian fans, the priority is simple: get all seven players through to Saturday. Lee, Herbert and John are comfortably placed, while Smyth and Scott should be safe barring a poor round. Day and Smith need to find improvement quickly.
Jackson Suber leads The Open Championship 2026 leaderboard at five under after a stunning Round 1 at Royal Birkdale.
