British Open Thursday live updates, leaderboard: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy are big favorites early at Royal Birkdale - Yahoo Sports

Jackson Suber had never played The Open Championship before this year. In fact, the 26-year-old had qualified for all of two majors prior to this week at Royal Birkdale. And yet, he is the first-round leader after firing a 5-under 65. It’s a stunning opening round for a player who’s never won a Korn Ferry tour event, let alone a PGA Tour tournament. But it’s Suber who holds a one-shot lead over Sungjae Im and Dan Brown; who is ahead of Bryson DeChambeau (-3) and Scottie Scheffler (-2) and Rory McIlroy, who struggled to a 2-over 72, that currently has him on the wrong side of the potential cut line (top 70 and ties). Not that Suber hasn’t shown he can hang with the world’s best. He finished T6 at the John Deere two weeks ago, T4 at the Canadian Open in June and fourth at the Byron Nelson in May. Still… “Monday was my first round of links golf, so I've played 27 holes before I played the first round today,” Suber said after his round. “I've never been to Europe.” Aside from the Suber shocker is the (surprise?) return to the top of the leaderboard of DeChambeau. Heading into this Open, DeChambeau was taking shots from all sides, including from three-time British champ Nick Faldo, who said DeChambeau has “zero clue” how to play a links course. How did DeChambeau respond? By firing a solid 67 that, in his post-round interview, he describe as “strategic.” "I think you've got to be a lot more strategic out on the golf course," he said. "I feel like I did a really good job today of being incredibly strategic and focused super hard on placing it in the right places.” While he didn’t mention Faldo by name, it was quite clear that he’d heard the critique. Scheffler, the defending champ, is in the hunt as well, though he could be closer. He birdied four of his first six holes, only to finish with a couple bogeys to come in at -2. With the tee times flipping Friday, Suber will be in the early wave, heading out at 2:30 a.m. ET, while DeChambeau and Scheffler (grouped together) will go out at 10:04 a.m. How to watch Thursday, July 16 USA Network: 4 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET Keep up with all of the action at the British Open on Thursday with Yahoo Sports.