Tommy Fleetwood shot a 69, one shot under par, during the first round of the 2026 Open Championship on Thursday [1].
The performance at Royal Birkdale Golf Club marks a critical start for the English professional as he pursues the Claret Jug on home soil. Fleetwood entered the tournament facing significant emotional pressure after the England national team suffered a loss in the World Cup semi-finals [4, 5].
Fleetwood played the opening round in Southport, England, where he navigated the course to finish one under par [1, 3]. Despite the score, the golfer expressed dissatisfaction with his level of play during the round. "I played awful," Fleetwood said [2].
The professional golfer noted that his preparation for the event was hampered by personal obligations. He spent time consoling his son following the World Cup disappointment before beginning his bid for the championship [4]. This emotional backdrop added a layer of difficulty to his performance at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club [1, 2].
Fleetwood's round of 69 [1] keeps him in contention as the tournament progresses. The opening day of the championship, held on July 16, 2026 [3], set the stage for the remaining rounds of the major. He now looks to build on this under-par start to climb the leaderboard in the coming days [3].
“"I played awful."”
Fleetwood's ability to post an under-par score despite a self-described poor performance and emotional distractions suggests a high level of resilience. Starting the tournament in the positive column at a challenging venue like Royal Birkdale provides a psychological advantage, even if the player feels his game is not yet peaking.
