Day one digest: The 2021 Open Championship

Everything you need to know from the opening day at Royal St George's Golf Club.

Louis led the way, Blandy had a blast, Danny kept his nose clean and Marcel had a birthday to remember during round one of The 2021 Open Championship.

Here is everything you need to know from Thursday at the final Major Championship of the 2021 Race to Dubai.

Louis leads the way

Louis Oosthuizen won the Claret Jug in 2010 and since then he has recorded a further six second places in Majors including The 2015 Open and two this season. The South African recorded a bogey free 64 in round one to get to six under and lead by one from Americans Jordan Spieth and Brian Harman. And after describing his round as "perfect", the 38-year-old revealed there was no scarring from recent near-misses at the US PGA Championship and U.S. Open. "It depends if you lost it or someone else beat you," he said. "I think in both of those I was beaten by better golf at the end there. It takes a little while but it's sort of, you have to get over it quickly, otherwise it's going to hold you back to perform again. I tried to take a few days and just try and forget about it and see if I can get myself ready for the next one."

Another big moment for Bland

Richard Bland enjoyed yet another incredible moment in a remarkable 2021 Race to Dubai as he hit the opening tee shot on Thursday. The Englishman was back on the European Tour after becoming the oldest ever European Challenge Tour graduate in 2019 and made the most of his chance by claiming a maiden victory at the 478th attempt and at the age of 48 at this season's Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett. He then held the 36 hole lead at the U.S. Open Championship and now, playing in two Majors in one season for the first time in his career, he was handed the honour of getting play started on home soil. "It was very special, very nerve-racking," he said. "It was a tremendous honour. Great for the R&A to put that on me. It's something that I wasn't expecting at all."

What a week for Marcel Siem

On Sunday, Marcel Siem claimed his first win in seven years and sealed a place in his first Open Championship in six. Then on Thursday, on his 41st birthday, he carded a 67 that left him in the top ten after 18 holes. You'd think that might merit a celebration but the German was determined to keep his focus on course. "There's no time for that," he said when asked if he would be celebrating. "I'm going to have dinner. This week is too important. It's my 14th week in a row. "I'm tired, so I might have one beer with (caddie) Guy later, but a lot of sleep is really important." And in one of those remarkable quirks of fate - who do you think was the last player to card a 67 or better at The Open on their birthday..........

Nice n sneezy for Willett

Danny Willett may have been leading the home charge after day one but the Englishman was glad just to be pain free. This year has seen the 2016 Masters Tournament champion catch Covid-19, have a wisdom tooth removed and then undergo surgery for appendicitis and a hernia, but that did not stop him carding a 67. “The hernia healed up all right but they go in in three places and tore my obliques with one and that’s really been hurting," he said. “It was joyous sneezing without it hurting for the first time on Saturday. That sounds stupid but that’s where I’ve been." Bless you, Danny.

No putters required

Anyone fancy a hat-trick of hole-outs? Course you do.