The Open: Dan Brown lights up Royal Birkdale with a crafty fag and a 66
North Yorkshire’s Dan Brown blazed a trail on the scorched links of Birkdale on Thursday and then pleaded with organisers not to ban the habit that might help him catch fire.
The 31-year-old from Northallerton fired a four-under-par 66 on the first morning of the opening round of the 154th Open to nestle in nicely among the day one pacesetters.
On his way round the sun-drenched links he smoked around seven or eight cigarettes, despite signs dotted around the course warning people to be vigilant with natural fire hazards.
“I’ve been making sure that they’re out,” Brown emphasised when addressing the media, before joking: “There might be a big drop off in my play on Sunday if I’m not allowed one. My stress levels will go up.”
The image of Brown sparking up a crafty fag while on the course jars with that of the modern day golfer, but it fits perfectly with his everyman image.
This is the second time the two-time winner on the DP World Tour has set tongues wagging at an Open.
Two years ago at Troon he held the lead after day one, played in the final group on the Saturday and went into the last round on Sunday just one shot off top spot, before finishing in 10th.
“The fact that I’ve shown I can compete in a major, in an Open, I feel like I’m a better player now to what I was two years ago,” he said of his chances of another sustained challenge at Birkdale.
He has yet to discover a spark in his rookie season on the PGA Tour, but added that his score on Thursday reflected how well he had been playing, the only difference being a few more putts dropped.
His fellow PGA Tour rookie Alex Fitzpatrick is another Yorkshireman back at an Open a lot better placed than when he was last here.
Three years ago down the coast at Hoylake he was a rookie. Now he is a winner on the DP World and PGA tours after a blistering six months.
Fitzpatrick opened with a one-under 69 which would have been better but for errant approach shots on the two inward par-fives proving costly.
“I felt like I played a little better than what I scored, although not birdieing any of the par-fives was frustrating,” said Fitzpatrick.
“My game is in a completely different spot than I was three years ago, I feel like I belong in these big tournaments and if I play my best golf this week I can compete.
“I didn’t have my best game today but I certainly don’t feel like I’ve played my way out of the tournament. I look forward to the next couple of days.”
Joe Dean holds the unique distinction of already having played a competitive round at Birkdale this week, having won the last chance qualifier on Monday to snag the last spot in the field.
But the 32-year-old from Sheffield couldn’t build on that in the fourth group out, missing short putts on 16 and 18 that would have got him back to level par. Instead he signed for a two-over 72.
“Not very happy at all with how I played,” said Dean, who admitted he was caught between attacking play and trying to shape shots into the green.
“There’s so much pressure and so much… not anxiety, just so much pressure on every shot. I could do with climbing up the order of merit on the DP World Tour, so it’s hard to take pressure off yourself.”
Helping keep him relaxed is fiancee Emily, who is by his side as his caddie. The two are to marry on Tuesday.
“If I’m honest I’d rather have two more days at Birkdale,” laughed Dean of his prospects of making the cut. “Not sure Emily would say the same. Think she’d prefer a bit more wedding prep.”
Two shots worse off was Wakefield’s Dan Bradbury. Playing his third Open having yet to make the cut, an opening 74 means he has a battle on to finally make the weekend here.
“It was just two bad holes,” he rued of a round that included double-bogeys on five and 14. “That’s the story of my last month, a lot of good play in there, but just too many stupid mistakes.
“There’s no reason I can’t get it going tomorrow, I know the good stuff is in there.”
So if he’s playing well, does he attack tomorrow?
“It’s a tough one,” said Bradbury. “If you go chasing around this course when you’re not quite on it, it could be disastrous. It’s supposed to be the hardest test, right.
“I’d love to make the cut, but I don’t think there’s any extra pressure to do that. I’m having a good season, I know my good golf is good, so I’m trying to focus on that.”
Harrogate’s John Parry teed off late morning and finished around teatime, getting a mix of the calmer conditions and then the stiffer breeze in the afternoon, before signing for a 71. He is in the first group out on Friday, with a 4am alarm call.
“I played solid today, but when the wind picked up it made it very tricky,” he said.