Jackson Suber Sticks 233-Yard Approach to Set Up Eagle in Opening 65 at The Open

Q: With favorites struggling, can a +35000 longshot actually win the Open Championship?

Yes. A +35000 longshot can realistically win the Open Championship, even if it remains unlikely. The strongest evidence is historical. The Open has produced some of golf’s biggest major upsets, including Ben Curtis at roughly 300-1 in 2003 and Todd Hamilton at 200-1 in 2004. Louis Oosthuizen also won at around 200-1 in 2010, while more recent Open winners such as Brian Harman, Shane Lowry and Zach Johnson were all well outside the favorite tier. Among the majors, The Open has a reputation for being especially vulnerable to surprise winners because links golf and weather can disrupt the usual hierarchy. That matters even more at Royal Birkdale, where firm conditions, wind, pot bunkers and a premium on precise ball-striking can reward specialists and expose stars. The current leaderboard reflects that volatility. Jackson Suber, who opened at +35000 and is making his Open debut, leads at 5-under after a 65. Dan Brown, another pre-tournament longshot, is one back. Meanwhile, several marquee names are already under pressure, with Justin Rose at +5 and Rory McIlroy over par early in his round. That does not make a longshot likely to finish the job. Four rounds at a major usually favor elite players, and contenders such as Collin Morikawa, Cameron Young and Bryson DeChambeau are still close enough to take control. But with favorites struggling and history showing The Open is unusually open to outsiders, a 350-1 winner is clearly possible.

3 articles · Updated · PGA TOUR · Jul 16

233 yards out at Royal Birkdale, Jackson Suber flushed an approach that left an eagle chance during his opening round at the 154th Open Championship.
That shot helped power Suber to a 5-under 65, putting the debutant atop the leaderboard by one stroke after Thursday's play.
Sungjae Im and Daniel Brown sat second at 4-under, while Rory McIlroy opened with a 2-over 72 after missing eight putts from inside 12 feet.
The early lead extends a breakout start for Suber, who gained more than six strokes in the round and seized control of the championship's first-day narrative.

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Jackson Suber Sticks 233-Yard Approach to Set Up Eagle in Opening 65 at The Open

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