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As it happenedended

The Open 2019 LIVE leaderbord: Rory McIlroy nine off lead as Shane Lowry leads the way and Tiger Woods begins

Follow the latest scores from the 148th Open Championship as the final major of the year returns to Northern Ireland for the first time in 68 years

Tom Kershaw
Royal Portrush
Thursday 18 July 2019 15:27 BST
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The Open Championship in numbers

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Follow the latest scores from The Open live as the first day at Royal Portrush gets underway.

The 148th Open Championship returns to Northern Ireland for only the second time in the tournament’s grand history, 68 years after first visiting Portrush in 1951, and features a heavily-packed Irish contingent of Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and plenty others.

But a number of Americans arrive at the final major of the year heading the pecking order, with Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods both hotly fancied after their recent form – the former unstoppable in majors over the last two years and latter claiming his 15th major at the Masters.

But there are plenty of other names in the mix from closer to home, with former world No 1 Justin Rose and in-form Englishman Matt Wallace among those to watch, while Jon Rahm is expected to challenge for his first major victory.

Follow the live scores below.

Latest updates

Please allow a moment for the leaderboard to load.

That was some back nine from Ryan Fox: 

Michael Jones18 July 2019 17:58

New Leader

John Rahm lands another birdie on the ninth hole for an outgoing 31. 5-under par. He's only the second player today to reach the landmark following Webb Simpson. With conditions looking favourable, at least for the time being, Rahm could post and really low score and set himself up with a considerable lead.

Then again Royal Portrush could fight back as it has done all day.

Michael Jones18 July 2019 18:04

Tommy Fleetwood pars the 18th for a opening round of 68. He's only the second player to complete his round without dropping a shot following Kiradech Aphibarnrat and he sit two shots off the lead at 3-under par.

Michael Jones18 July 2019 18:09

Shubhankar Sharma (-1) becomes the third player with an unblemished round. A lone birdie on 13 the only change difference on the card. Oosthuizen (-1) joins him in the clubhouse in the red but he bogeys the last with a five.

Brooks Koepka's only blemish came won 17 with a bogey five. He pars the last and goes into the clubhouse with an opening round of 68. Rahm, Lowry and Holmes sit above him on the leaderboard.

Michael Jones18 July 2019 18:17

JB Holmes(-4) is 2-under par on the back nine as he sinks another birdie putt on the 14th. He moves within one of Rahm with four holes to play.

Michael Jones18 July 2019 18:19

Fair play.

Michael Jones18 July 2019 18:22

JB Holmes (-4) has a 25-30 foot putt on the 15th for his sixth birdie of the day. He hits it well and the ball finishes an inch or so from the hole. No birdie but another par in the bag.

Dustin Johnson (-1) moves back under par with a 2 on the par-3 13th. 

Michael Jones18 July 2019 18:31

John Rahm (-4) drops a shot on 11. He leaves himself a 10ft putt for par and misses it to the right.

Michael Jones18 July 2019 18:33

Lee Westwood's (-1) approach into the 15th is very good, he lands the ball just past the hole and a little roll leaves him with 7-10 feet for birdie.

Michael Jones18 July 2019 18:43

He doesn't get it, at the last foot the ball jerks right and skirts the edge of the hole before hovering over the lip. Lee steps up and taps it in for par. 

Dustin Johnson has a long putt on the 14th but hits it too softly and the ball curls away to the right.

Michael Jones18 July 2019 18:46

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