Kennedy banks on Japan experience for good start at The Open

Australia’s Brad Kennedy relied on his experience of winning titles on the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) to get his campaign at The 150^th Open off to a promising start on Thursday.

The 48-year-old, a three-time JGTO winner, posted a four-under-par 68 to trail first round leader, Cameron Young of the United States by four shots at the St. Andrews Old Course.

“I’ve been playing really nicely in Japan and had a couple of weeks back home to prepare for this. I’m really excited to be here and see how far I can push myself.

“It was nice to get that continuity of playing back in Japan after COVID. Those couple of good performances in Japan just gave me the belief that my game is in the right direction,” said Kennedy who has four top-10s in eight starts on JGTO this season.

Making his fourth appearance at the world’s oldest major, the Australian stormed off the blocks quickly with four birdies in his first six holes.

His charge was stopped momentarily after he dropped two shots on holes eight and nine. Kennedy, however, recovered quickly with successive birdies on the next two holes only to be pegged back again by bogeys on 12 and 13.

The Australian, who is the best placed non-Japanese on the season’s JGTO’s Money Rankings, steadied the ship with a birdie on the par-five 14, three straight pars from 15 before ending his round with another birdie on 18.

When asked about his opening round, Kennedy said: “I did not expect that (making eight birdies). We got a really nice breeze this morning and I managed to hit some great iron shots and tackle some tough pars and pin positions.

“I got a little out of sorts on eight and nine but I played great most of the days, only hit one or two terrible shots. But managed to regroup and played really nice to finish the round.

Zimbabwean star Scott Vincent, who punched his ticket in after winning the Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open in May, is a further shot back from Kennedy in a share of 13^th position after he signed for a 69.

Philippines’ Justin De Los Santos, making his major debut, gave a good account of himself with a 71 for a share of 35^th place which also included Yuto Katuragawa.

First round scores of JGTO members

68 – Brad Kennedy (AUS)

69 – Scott Vincent (ZIM)

71 – Justin De Los Santos (PHI), Yuto Katsuragawa (JPN)

72 – Keita Nakajima (A) (JPN)

73 – Kazuki Higa (JPN)

74 – Chan Kim (USA), Takumi Kanaya (JPN), Anthony Quayle (AUS), Shaun Norris (RSA), Matthew Griffin (AUS)

75 – Rikuya Hoshino (JPN)

80 – Shugo Imahira (JPN)