Jackson Suber goes from first round of links golf to solo lead at British Open in four-day span

Jackson Suber, one of 44 players in the field making their Open Championship debut, told reporters after his opening round Thursday that this week is his first time in Europe. He seemed plenty comfortable, carding a 5-under 65 to take sole possession of the lead — just the fourth time in Open history a player shot 65 or better in his career debut round.

No Open history, no problem. For the fourth time in five years, the Open Championship’s first round leader — or co-leader — is someone making their debut at the major. And this time it’s not just the player’s first time at The Open — it’s his first time in Europe.

That’s what Jackson Suber revealed to reporters after carding a 5-under 65 to take sole possession of the Royal Birkdale leaderboard. “Monday was my first round of links golf, so I’ve played 27 holes before I played the first round today,” the 26-year-old Suber said. Adapting to links golf has proven to be a challenge Suber can conquer in a four-day span.

Or, as in the case of his first round on Thursday, something he can even master in nine holes. The Ole Miss alum, who is playing in just the third major of his career after missing the cut at Shinnecock earlier this year and finishing T-73 at the 2024 U.S. Open, shot an even 34 on the front nine at Royal Birkdale only to find momentum after a birdie at the par-4 10th. “Things just really started going after the birdie on 10,” Suber told reporters.

“Just kind of kept the ball in good spots and didn’t put much pressure on my game to make pars.” His eagle at No. 17 helped take the solo lead, jumping in front of Dan Brown and Sungjae Im who enter Friday a shot off the lead after posting 66s. Brown led at Royal Troon just two years ago, in what was then his Open debut.

“Choked up pretty far on it almost to the shaft,” said Suber of his use of the 4-iron at 17. “The ball was way above my feet, but got it over that bunker and in that collection area and got a good bounce up on to the green.” YouTube prep proving essential To familiarize himself with a place he had never set foot in, Suber went to the one place everyone does to gain knowledge and acclimate oneself visually to potential future surroundings: YouTube.

“I watched a YouTube video on every hole at Birkdale on Friday last week,” he revealed, “but besides that, I just have a stats guy that’s helped me [and] just knowing that the pot bunkers are no good and stay out of those.” How does he expect to follow-up such a performance without a roadmap? “Keep being patient and keep being disciplined and knowing that you can get in spots where bogey is a great score and taking that and just moving on,” said Suber, who has three T-10 finished on Tour this year including in his most recent outing at the John Deere Classic.

The Tampa, Florida native ranks fifth in greens in regulation percentage this season and inside the top 10 in every approach category from 200 yards or greater. “I feel like I’m a good iron player, just a lot of long irons into these holes,” he said, looking for an explanation for his low score. “Then it’s just chipping, I like chipping off tight, firm surfaces.

Kind of feeling comfortable with that, I think is important for me.” Thoughts on Europe so far? Having landed Sunday and played golf every day since, Suber hasn’t exactly gone full tourist in his first time in Europe.

But he did tell reporters that he checked out Liverpool with Pierceson Coody. “The golf is really cool, and just the towns, how the train system works,” said Suber, who has plenty of international playing experience in Canada and Latin America. While making the most of his first visit and certainly enjoying his links golf debut, Suber was quick to draw the line at one cultural experience — driving on the other side of the road.

That one he deemed vital to not attempt while in pursuit of the claret jug. “I’m trying to make it here for four days,” he joked.