“A brilliant setup of the golf course. This place usually should not be that difficult of a golf course, but the holes have been well-protected.” – Paul Azinger on the First-Round setup
“I’ve been very impressed with how much control he has with his golf ball. His body language, how confident he seems…I just think he’s going to be contending here at the end of the week.” – Smylie Kaufman on Max Homa
“If you get too aggressive, sometimes you’re playing too good for your own good…to see a player of his skill short side himself in so many instances, perhaps he didn’t have the right strategy.” – Brandel Chamblee on Rory McIlroy
“This has been a disastrous day for Justin Thomas. It’s a lonely feeling. He’s really going through something.” – Paul Azinger on Justin Thomas after an 11-over 82
STAMFORD, Conn. – July 20, 2023 – NBC Sports presented exclusive first-round coverage of the 151st Open Championship from Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England, across USA Network and Peacock, capped by Live From the Open studio coverage on GOLF Channel and Peacock.
Exclusive second-round coverage begins tomorrow at 1:30 a.m. ET on Peacock and continues at 4 a.m. ET on USA Network.
151st Open Championship – First Round Leaderboard
| Player | Total |
| Christo Lamprecht (a) | -5 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | -5 |
| Emiliano Grillo | -5 |
| Brian Harman | -4 |
| Adrian Otaegui | -4 |
| Antoine Rozner | -4 |
| Brian Harman | -4 |
Friday-Sunday Coverage Schedule
| Date | Peacock | USA Network | NBC/Peacock |
| Friday, July 21 | *1:30-4 a.m./3-4 p.m. | 4 a.m. – 3 p.m. | |
| Saturday, July 22 | 5-7 a.m. | 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. | |
| Sunday, July 23 | 4-7 a.m. | 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
*coverage will begin shortly before the first scheduled tee time at 1:30 a.m. ET
ON ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND THE OPEN
Paul Azinger on today’s conditions and setup: “A brilliant setup of the golf course. This place usually should not be that difficult of a golf course. Three par-5s, several other wedge chances, but the holes have been well-protected because of where they’ve put them on the greens, over mounds and near the edges.”
Brad Faxon on the challenge the Royal Liverpool greens present: “Speed control is huge on all greens. These may be more difficult because they are slower. All of the players out here will say it’s harder to go from faster greens to slow greens. You see greens that are low on the stimpmeter like these, it’s a real challenge.”
John Wood on what Tiger Woods told him were his keys for success at The Open: “He said no doubles (bogeys), no three-putts, and lag the heck out of your putts.”
Faxon on the new 17th hole: “I’m a huge fan of this hole. I know a lot of the players don’t necessarily like it because it’s No. 17 and it could be a determining factor, but I think it’s a great golf hole.”
ON TOMMY FLEETWOOD (-5, T-1st)
Tommy Fleetwood to Cara Banks on what it meant playing at Royal Liverpool just about an hour away from where he grew up: “It was very cool and special…so lucky to get to experience the support I have on a week like this. It was all day – the support – I’m so grateful for it.”
Rich Lerner: “He is known for having a cool-looking golf swing, but I think he’s really underrated around and on the greens. I would call that the sharpest part of his game, year in and year out.”
Faxon: “I’m trying to figure out which Beatle he looks the most like, because at the end of this, if he ends up on top, the coronation that he will get will be like the Beatles back in the ‘60s.”
ON MAX HOMA (-3, T-7th)
Smylie Kaufman: “I’ve been very impressed with how much control he has with his golf ball. His body language, how confident he seems…I just think he’s going to be contending here at the end of the week.”
ON VIKTOR HOVLAND (-1, T-18th)
Trey Wingo on Open Championship All-Access on bird droppings landing on Hovland: “A bird just…dropped something on Viktor Hovland. Now, if you can’t make a birdie after a bird drops something on you...you’ve got to think this is a good sign.”
ON WYNDHAM CLARK (-3, T-7th)
Nick Faldo on Clark’s second shot staying stuck in the deep rough on No, 15: “My goodness, he couldn’t even more it a yard. It’s down so deep, he’s got to give it a mighty heave…and I think he said a bit more than ‘Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da.’”
Mike Tirico: “The first of many Beatles references from Sir Nick this week.”
ON RORY MCILROY (E, T-32nd)
Chamblee: “So much of winning major championships or being in contention is a little derived from luck…the form you’re in at the time…Rory made some tactical errors today. Short-sided himself, steep-faced bunkers on the side where the hole was…if you get too aggressive, sometimes you’re playing too good for your own good…to see a player of his skill short side himself in so many instances, you have to think that perhaps he didn’t have the right strategy out there…on the whole, Rory played okay today but he was a little flat.”
ON JUSTIN THOMAS (+11, T-154th)
Azinger: “This has been a disastrous day for Justin Thomas…his cold streak continues. It’s a lonely feeling. He’s really going through something. Everyone wants to help him get out of this slump. Jordan Spieth went through it, guys in our era went through it.”
--NBC SPORTS--