Lowry and Brown flawless as Rory McIlroy flounders in first round at Royal Troon

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Shane Lowry had a perfect start to his attempt to win a second Open title, while Rory McIlroy seemed to dismiss his own chances of winning at Royal Troon.

Lowry made five birdies without any bogeys in his 66 score, which was only beaten by Daniel Brown of England at 9:33 pm. Brown, who is ranked 272nd in the world, shot an impressive 65 to take a surprising lead in his first Open appearance.

Brown, who achieved his first DP World Tour win in Northern Ireland almost a year ago, used the more peaceful weather conditions later in the day to score birdies on the third, fifth, 10th, 11th, 16th, and 18th holes.

"I'm really pumped up, but it's important to stay realistic," said the 29-year-old from Northallerton. He placed 61st in the Scottish Open on Sunday after struggling in his last seven tournaments with six missed cuts and one withdrawal.

"I'm going to give it my all and see how it goes."

The difference between Lowry's score of 66 and McIlroy's 78 made me think of the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush. Lowry started strong with a 67 and went on to win the Claret Jug, while McIlroy's hopes were crushed with a 79.

Lowry expressed satisfaction but also acknowledged that there are still three more days ahead.

I repeatedly reminded myself that something was happening with the audience. I felt like they were becoming very enthusiastic for some unknown reason. It was getting late in the day and we had enjoyed a couple of pints of Tennent's. It felt as if it was already the weekend.

I kept reminding myself that there were still many tasks ahead of me, so I focused on my own progress and made some successful shots. I was satisfied with my composure during the game.

The stroll on the 18th hole was really nice. I told Billy Foster, who caddies for Matt Fitzpatrick, that it's the best walk in golf. I had the chance to experience it on a Sunday afternoon with a crowd watching. I hope to have that opportunity again in the future.

I really want to win this tournament once more. I am willing to do whatever it takes to put myself in a position to win again, which is why I am participating this week.

No matter what I do, my time in Portrush that week will always hold a special spot in my heart. I have a deep affection for that location and for this competition.

McIlroy was feeling pessimistic and had already ruled out his chances of competing for a fifth major title after making some costly mistakes around the turn.

McIlroy was even on the scorecard after seven holes, but then made a mistake on the signature par-three eighth hole. His first shot from the bunker on the Postage Stamp hole ended up hitting the bunker wall and coming back to where he was standing.

During the second half of the golf course, McIlroy thought he could improve his score due to the wind direction. Unfortunately, he hit an out-of-bounds shot on the 11th hole, resulting in another double bogey. In the end, he finished seven over par, trailing his close friend Lowry by 12 strokes.

Statistician Justin Ray, who is the main data analyst at KPMG Performance Insights, says that 87 percent of Open champions from 1960 onwards were only four shots behind the leader after the first round.

When questioned about his ability to recover from the ground he had lost, McIlroy took a long time before responding: "I just need to concentrate on tomorrow and work towards making the cut. That's my main focus right now."

The 35-year-old, who narrowly missed winning the US Open last month, said: "I thought I was playing well in the beginning of the round, but then I missed the green at the Postage Stamp and ended up with a double bogey."

Despite the wind giving some assistance on the back nine, it was mostly coming from the left, making it quite challenging. I was unexpectedly struggling with the difficulty of the back nine. The current windy conditions are presenting a tough challenge that we have not faced earlier in the week.

"When that happens, it opens up new possibilities and makes you consider trying out some golf clubs that you haven't used before. It was just one of those days where I didn't adjust well to the weather conditions."

Bryson DeChambeau won his second US Open by beating McIlroy at Pinehurst. However, he performed poorly with a score of 76, but he did manage to sink a 55-foot putt for an eagle on the 16th hole.

DeChambeau struggled on the front nine, scoring a double bogey on the long 612-yard sixth hole. He had trouble getting out of the heavy rough and ended up hitting his next shot onto the 13th fairway.

Thomas was able to finish the first half of the game at three under par by making birdies on the 17th and 18th holes. His score of 68 was much better than his score from the previous year at Hoylake, where he had struggled and scored 14 shots higher.

"I can't even remember what was going through my mind or how it felt back then," Thomas said when asked to contrast the two rounds.

"I am currently focused on my progress and feel content with how my skills are developing. I am confident that I am moving in the right direction."

Joe Dean, who used to work as a delivery driver for a supermarket, ended up in a seven-way tie for fourth place, along with golf stars Xander Schauffele, Nicolai Hojgaard, and Justin Rose, all finishing two under par.

Rose, who had to compete in a 36-hole qualifying round to reach Troon, recorded two birdies and 16 pars without any bogeys in a score of 69.