The 152nd Open Championship - Day one digest

Everything you need to know from day one of the season's final Major Championship.

Dan Brown enjoyed a dream debut, Shane Lowry continued his links love affair, Michael Hendry had an emotional day and they were holing out from everywhere on day one of The 152nd Open Championship.

Here is everything you need to know from Thursday at Royal Troon.

Brown leads the way

Brown carded a brilliant bogey-free 65 in his first round at a Major Championship to lead by one after day one. The Englishman had not played a weekend on the DP World Tour since March before making the cut at last week's Genesis Scottish Open but found his form in spectacular style. His six under par effort saw him lead the way from 2019 Open champion Lowry, with two-time Major winner Justin Thomas at three under. English duo Joe Dean and Justin Rose, American pair Russell Henley and Xander Schauffele, Dane Nicolai Højgaard, Swede Alex Noren and Canadian Mackenzie Hughes were then four shots off the lead. "I was nervous on the first tee, obviously it being my first Major, but I hit a few nice shots early so I kind of got settled into the round pretty quick," he said. "I'm going to try and sort of keep my feet on the ground a bit and take on the job again tomorrow."

Lowry masters the links

Lowry is widely regarded as a master of links golf, having won his home open as an amateur over the links of County Louth as well as claiming his 2019 Open victory at Royal Portrush. He also has two Rolex Series wins and a World Golf Championships title to his name, with that CV always putting him among the favourites when he plays in the conditions he is used to. Holing 126 feet of putts on day one will have only increased expectations but Lowry was refusing to get carried away after posting a bogey-free 66 - his lowest opening round in a Major Championship. "I'm pretty happy but it's only one day," he said. "We've got three more days. If I don't play well the next three rounds, it doesn't matter what I shot today. I'm fully aware that I have a job to do over the next three days. I'd give anything to win this tournament again. I'd give anything to give myself a chance to win this tournament again and that's why I'm here this week. This is obviously a great start to do that."

Troon worth the wait for leukaemia survivor Hendry

Michael Hendry was left cherishing being able to compete this week after overcoming leukaemia to start at Royal Troon. Hendry was unable to take his place in the field after qualifying for last year’s championship at Royal Liverpool following his diagnosis. The event’s organisers, the R&A, deferred his place to 2024 and the New Zealander admitted the prospect of playing at the Ayrshire links this week had kept him going in his darkest moments. “It was incredible,” said Hendry after a three-over-par 74. “I can’t really describe how grateful I am, not only to the R&A, but to all the doctors and nurses that have helped me over the last 12 months. This is one thing that really got me through my recovery, and to finally be here and teeing it up was extremely special and quite emotional.”

The dream start

You're 96th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking and making your Major Championship debut having come through Final Qualifying. With just your second shot, you do this. Take a bow Jaime Montojo.

Anything you can do

Jaime wasn't the only one making hole-out eagles.

Great Scott

The last Major in which Adam Scott did not play was the 2002 U.S. Open. This week will be his 93rd consecutive Major and 24th consecutive Open. Shots like this are the reason why.

Bunker? What bunker?

The sand traps can be pretty treacherous at Troon but that doesn't mean you can't do spectacular things from them.