Daniel Brown of Northallerton, England is the leader after the first round of the 2024 British Open. The 29-year-old DP World Tour member shot a first round score of six-under-par.
Brown had six birdies and zero bogeys. He birdied the third, fifth, 10th, 11th, 16th, and 18th holes.
Two more golfers are in contention. They are both major champions from the past. Shane Lowry of Clara, Ireland is in second place with a score of five-under-par. The 2019 British Open champion had five birdies and zero bogeys. Lowry birdied the fourth, seventh, eighth, 11th, and 18th holes. Meanwhile, two-time major champion Justin Thomas of Louisville, Kentucky is all alone in third place at three-under-par. Thomas had seven birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey. The 2017 and 2022 PGA Championship winner is three strokes off the lead.
The biggest story in round one was simply Brown, and the fact he is not well known in the mainstream golf world. The 29-year-old’s world ranking is 272nd, and only earned a qualifying spot for the British Open by earning one of the four spots in West Lancashire. He qualified alongside fellow Englishmen Sam Horsfield of Manchester, and amateur Matthew Dodd-Berry of Wirral, and Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura. Dodd-Berry just completed his sophomore season at East Tennessee State University.
Brown was also praised by The Golf Channel for coming into round one very prepared. He was seen studying the Royal Troon golf course very thoroughly on Wednesday, a day before the fourth major of the season started.
On the DP World Tour, Brown has one victory. He claimed the 2023 ISPS Handa World Invitational.
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