Tune in to GOLF’s Tour Confidential every Sunday night for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they analyze the hottest topics in the sport. This week, with the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, we’ll hit one key topic each night.
Jackson Suber shot a 65 to take an early lead in the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, though it wasn’t the only surprise of Day 1 (looking at you, Bryson!). What’s the big surprise on Thursday?
Sean Zak, senior author: Francesco Molinari! I’m dead serious. Frankie was a broken golfer from the 12th hole of the 2019 Masters. Rarely has a person traveled the world and crater so quickly. But if we take a hard look at this golf course, doesn’t it have a beautiful Carnoustie in it? He is T4 and two out of the front.
James Colgan, news and features editor: Henrik Stenson! The guy is ranked 1,600 in the world! He hasn’t had a recorded start with OWGR since the Open LAST YEAR! And now he’s on the front page of the leaderboard after Day 1. That’s impressive stuff, even if his CRNWD hat should be doused in lighter fluid and thrown into a furnace.
Nick Piastowski, editor-in-chief: David Howard, who shot 74, but it’s a wonder, as he said, that he’s playing at all. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was 7, he said this earlier this week on the BBC: “When I was 12 or 13 I didn’t even think I’d live to this age – to be here now, healthy and playing with all these great players, it’s unbelievable to me. On Thursday, he got another round of applause on the 1st hole. “It was like I won something big,” he said. “It’s class. There is nothing like that before.”
Jessica Marksbury, senior editor: What about Mr. DeChambeau? After three missed straight cuts in the majors this year, I don’t think anyone expected much from Bryson this week. But an opening 67 (with two bogeys on the back nine) to sit just two shots off the lead in the first round is quite the feat.
Josh Schrock, associate news editor: Well, 18-year-old amateur Lev Grinberg became the first Ukrainian-born player to make it in a major tournament on Thursday. Grinberg practices for the French Golf Federation at Le Golf National and will play college golf in the future. It was a big, historic stage but Grinberg looked undaunted. He shot one over, which was enough to beat Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose. He’ll get a chance to decide and play this weekend, but he’s thinking about more. “It’s my first big lesson and I’m sure if everything goes well with my body I’ll be back for many more competitions,” said Grinberg. “I’m going to have fun tomorrow and learn how everything will turn out.” The child has no self-esteem.
