The New Zealand foursome have all carded over-par rounds but remain in the mix to make the cut after the opening day of the Open Championship at Royal Troon.
World number 272 Englishman Daniel Brown is the first round leader after firing a six-under 65, playing in the penultimate group of the day. Brown came into the Open having missed seven cuts in his last eight events on the DP World Tour.
2019 winner Shane Lowry was the leader for much of the late action following a five-under 66. Just 17 players in the 157-man field sit under par after a brutal day on the Scottish west coast with mixed winds off the Firth of Clyde.
Former world number one Justin Thomas is three shots back from Brown at three-under while seven players are in a share of fourth including PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele. World number one Scottie Scheffler carded a one-under 70 along with the likes of Adam Scott, Matt Fitzpatrick and Brooks Koepka.
Kazuma Kobori and Ryan Fox are in a share of 42nd after both carding a two-over 73 with Fox’s putter saving him throughout the day. The world number 64 had two bogeys on the front nine, at the 620-yard par five when his approach went wide left and he failed to find the green with his chip on followed by a bogey five at the ninth. He then played even through the back nine.
