Day one digest: The Senior Open Presented by Rolex

Everything you need to know about day one at The Senior Open Presented by Rolex.

History repeats itself

Two-time Senior Major Champion Paul Broadhurst is no stranger to the top of a leaderboard, having won eight titles on both sides the Atlantic since turning 50.

He returned to Royal Lytham & St Annes to play a competitive round for the first time since 1996, where he finished the first round at the top of the leaderboard after a six under par round of 65 (when the course played as a par 71).

After the first round of The 2019 Senior Open Presented by Rolex, Broadhurst is back at the top of the leaderboard again, sharing first with four other players.

The long and Short of it

Wes Short Jr was the first competitor of the day to register a three under par total. He made the turn at one over, but quickly moved into the red after a birdie-eagle start to the inward nine. His third gain of the day saw him move to three under par, and he was then joined by Broadhurst and Scott Dunlap on that number in the clubhouse late in the evening. Ken Duke and Scott Parel, also on three under par, are yet to finish their rounds, with two and one holes left to play respectively.

Past Captains make their mark

It was a great morning for former European Ryder Cup Captains Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie, as they both carded two under par rounds of 68. Clarke recovered from two bogeys on his front nine by making three birdies after the turn, which added to his first of the day on the third hole.

Montgomerie was one of just a handful of golfers to go bogey-free on the Lancashire links, with birdies on the 11th and 15th holes.

The duo are two of nine former Ryder Cup Captains teeing it up this week, with seven representatives from Europe and two from the United States.

Lehman returns

One of those United States Captains is Tom Lehman, who famously won The Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1996. Joint holder of the course record—a seven under par 64—which he shot on the Saturday of that Open and shares with Adam Scott.

The American battled back from a from a triple bogey on the par four third hole and made the turn on level par. A birdie on the last saw him sign for a level par 70 and a share of 15th place.

The smoothest swing in golf?

The 2012 Senior Open Champion Fred Couples proved today that he still has one of the smoothest swings in golf. 

Sit back and enjoy.