Who’s Christo Lamprecht? Meet the South African newbie main The Open at Royal Liverpool | Golf Information

Beginner Christo Lamprecht fired a powerful five-under 66 at Royal Liverpool to seize the early lead in The 151st Open; South African’s begin is the second-lowest opening spherical by an newbie in Open historical past; watch all through the week reside on Sky Sports activities

Christo Lamprecht upstaged the world’s greatest as he produced a superb show to develop into the shock early chief of The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool.

The South African, who certified for the ultimate males’s main of the 12 months by profitable the Beginner Championship final month, combined seven birdies with two bogeys to put up a five-under 66 and set the clubhouse goal at Hoylake.

Lamprecht performs college golf within the USA for Georgia Tech and is third on this planet newbie golf rankings, with the 6ft 8ins rising star – who can even be eligible to play in The Masters subsequent April – not shocked by making a powerful begin to his main profession.

Lamprecht is considered one of six amateurs within the subject at Royal Liverpool

“In my very own head, no, it is not,” Lamprecht mentioned after his opening spherical. “I feel I am very exhausting on myself and I feel I earned my spot to be right here. I feel the best way I performed immediately I earned to be on the highest of the leaderboard, as of now.

“It is not a cocky factor to say. I simply personally suppose I imagine in myself, and I assume stepping on to the primary tee field if you happen to’re an expert or a competitor, you ought to be believing that you ought to be the very best standing there.

“Yeah, I am very pleased with it. I am a bit of bit shocked, clearly, naturally, but additionally I performed good golf immediately.”

How Lamprecht set the shock tempo

Enjoying alongside compatriot Louis Oosthuizen and Dutchman Joost Luiten, Lamprecht holed from 20 toes to save lots of par on the first earlier than draining a 25-footer on the third after taking free aid from close to the grandstand following his tee shot.

Lamprecht almost discovered the par-four fourth inexperienced off the tee and used his size off the tee to benefit from the par-five fifth, two-putting from 50 toes for birdie. He then fired his tee shot in shut on the par-three subsequent to select up one other shot.

The 22-year-old began his again 9 with a birdie and responded to lacking an eight-footer to save lots of par on the eleventh by chipping in from the green on the 14th, with one other birdie on the par-five subsequent briefly shifting him three forward.

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Lamprecht chipped in on the 14th gap for a powerful birdie throughout his opening spherical at The Open

Lamprecht didn’t stand up and down from the again of the sixteenth inexperienced, dropping him again to 4 underneath, with the newbie coming shut with a long-range birdie effort on the seventeenth earlier than signing off his spherical by choosing up a shot on the par-five final.

“I might most likely say the primary tee shot was the one little bit of nerves I had all day,” Lamprecht added. “I simply walked off the primary tee field after hitting my snap-hook drive, and my caddie simply advised me ‘hear, you are taking part in The Open as an newbie; no have to stress’. We type of had enjoyable from there.

Lamprecht acknowledges the gang after signing off with a birdie on the 18th

“It [leading] is fairly surreal. It is good to see loads of work behind the scenes repay. It is one thing I have not dreamt of but, nevertheless it’s fairly cool.”

The quick begin is the second-lowest opening spherical by an newbie within the historical past of The Open, one shot larger than Tom Lewis managed on the opening day in 2011, whereas the rating is 4 strokes higher than any newbie has ever managed in the course of the first spherical of an Open at Royal Liverpool.

Lamprecht obtained reward from Bryson DeChambeau for his ball velocity throughout a observe spherical forward of the event, plus described taking part in associate Oosthuizen as a “ginormous mentor” in his early profession, whereas he’s refusing to get carried away about becoming a member of the skilled ranks.

Lamprecht set the clubhouse goal on the opening day of The 151st Open

“I actually do not suppose something [will change], to be sincere,” Lamprecht insisted. “At first of my faculty profession I made a promise to our head coach I used to be going to remain 4 years and I feel you are solely as invaluable as your phrase. I am positively planning on staying in faculty for the following 12 months and planning on turning professional after that.”

Jordan hails ‘dream day’ after strong begin

Royal Liverpool member Matthew Jordan loved the day of his life after being given the honour of hitting the opening tee shot in Hoylake.

Jordan bought the competition underneath approach with the 6.35am tee time on Thursday morning, with big crowds following him all through the morning as he carded 4 birdies and two bogeys in a two-under 69.

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Royal Liverpool member Matthew Jordan describes the unforgettable second he bought the 151st Open Championship underneath approach

“Wonderful – I am operating out of phrases to explain it,” Jordan mentioned. “It was loopy, psychological, loud, every little thing that I may have wished for. I am definitely making an attempt to think about a greater expertise than that, and I do not suppose I can.

“Clearly with the event and every little thing happening to start out with, I am actually comfortable to definitely break 70. I feel that is one factor, if you happen to try this, you definitely cannot be displeased.”

Watch The 151st Open all through the week completely reside on Sky Sports activities. Reside protection of the second spherical begins on Thursday from 6.30am on Sky Sports activities Golf.