Carnoustie is one of the most challenging courses in Scotland, let alone the world. This links course can give any player a hellish experience on any given day, which is why many people colloquially refer to it as 'Carnasty'.
Just ask anyone who has played in the British Open Championship at Carnoustie, which has hosted golf's oldest major tournament eight times.
But many top players return to the course each year for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, the famous DP World Tour Pro-Am held at Carnoustie, the Old Course at St Andrews and Kingsbarns in Scotland. This year, Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry and Billy Horschel will be competing. So did LIV Golf stalwarts Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm, the latter of whom got off to a great start Thursday at Carnoustie.
Fresh off a tough loss to Angel Hidalgo at the Spanish Open in Madrid, Rahm shot a seven-under 65 against Carnoustie, matching the lowest score recorded there on Thursday. At the end of the first day, he was far ahead of the rest of the field, although he was still four behind South Africa's Darren Fichard, 49, who shot a 61 at Kingsbarns. But a sub-70 score at Carnoustie is something to celebrate no matter the conditions. Most players will struggle on this course, which winds around the famous Barry Burn. Yes, Rahm's 65 is more impressive than that.
Still, Rahm played well for two reasons. It's a hot putter and some unconventional advice from fellow LIV golfer Tyrrell Hatton, who has won the Dunhill Links twice. Interestingly, Hatton also hit 65 against Carnoustie on Thursday.
“In Tyrrell's words, just hit your driver into the rough past all the bunkers and hit a lob wedge into the green,” Rahm explained.
“That's basically what I did, I missed it in all the right places. The first fairway on the front nine was No. 17 and I was 3 under, right? That's some of the things you can do when you're not set up. The rough is a little lower so you can be aggressive and hit the short iron into the green. That's what I did today.”
Ironically, Rahm's only bogey came on the par-4 17th, where he found his first fairway of the day. He then made up for that mistake with a birdie on the final par-4 18th hole. This hole was the hole where Jean van de Velde hit the most famous triple bogey in golf history at the 1999 British Open.
Rahm then made four more birdies on the front nine, his second nine of the day.
“I had a better tee shot on the front nine,” Rahm said.
“I was able to stay in the fairway for the most part and be aggressive.”
Of course, you'll need your flat sticks to help you score well on the famous Carnoustie Links.
“My putting was really good today. I hit it really well. I felt comfortable on the outside,” Rahm said.
“But the number of 15- to 20-foot putts was above today's average. That's what you need to score on a golf course like Carnoustie. We can continue to play like this over the next few days. I hope so.”
If Rahm continues to play like he did against St Andrews and Kingsbarns on Thursday, he could be on the run. He's coming off the most difficult course and it's all downhill from here.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation's Playing Through. Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
