Eye-opening carnage at The Open leaves players struggling, fans drooling during 1st round

Royal Troon gave players fits at the Open Championship on Thursday, and golf fans loved to watch them struggle.

Round One of The Open Championship saw a wide variety of scores. Shane Lowry carded a masterful 5-under 66 in brutal conditions. Justin Thomas shot 3-under, but plenty of others shot in the high 70s.

The afternoon wave had much better weather than the morning groups. However, American golf fans who woke up at dawn appreciated the challenging conditions.

The wind and rain were brutal, and fans acknowledged it. Many rooted for the weather to cause more damage because there is something relatable about seeing professional golfers struggle.

This week always seems to have some harsh conditions, as the Scottish coast is notorious for its temperamental weather.

Rory McIlroy shot a 7-over 78, while Bryson DeChambeau carded a 5-over 76. Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Åberg signed for 4-over 75s. There were so many high scores on Thursday, but let’s check out some of the best reactions to the weather taking home the win for round one.

X user Nate Dawg is right; these vibes are one of a kind. While tournaments in the United States get weather, nothing compares to The Open Championship.

Royal Troon may say it is 7,385 yards long, but with the wind and crazy conditions, it plays so much longer. Players must calculate distance and club usage on almost every shot from tee to green.

Friday’s round will likely be the best day of the week regarding the weather, but it still will create some issues. Saturday’s and Sunday’s forecast looks to be a real problem for those who make the cut, so prepare for more carnage and entertainment.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.