SOUTHPORT, England — Jordan Spieth stood over a six-foot birdie putt on his last hole to tie the first-round record at the British Open at Royal Birkdale on Thursday. In 1983, Craig Stadler opened with a 64, and the next three times the tournament was held here, nobody started better.
Spieth already had drained four attempts in the six-to-eight-foot range either for birdie or par on Thursday in a putting display that a member of his group, Henrik Stenson, said was reminiscent of Spieth’s mastery of the greens when he won the Masters in 2015.
After Spieth sank an eight-footer on the 16th to save par, his caddie, Michael Greller, made his way to the 17th tee and said under his breath, “He willed it in.