The Open: SA's Christiaan Bezuidenhout part of five-way tie at the top of the leaderboard

The Mpumalanga native carded a four under 67 around a wet 'n wild Royal Portrush, enough to tie with China's Haotong Li, Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick, Denmark's Jacob Skov Olesen and American Harris English.

World Number One Scottie Scheffler, English pair Matthew Jordan and Tyrrell Hatton and Thailand's Sadom Kaewkanjana sit a shot further back in a tie for sixth.

Afternoon starter Bezuidenhout turned in 33 courtesy of a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth before bouncing back from a bogey on the 11th with an eagle at the 12th to join the lead.

After narrowly missing his birdie try at the last and the chance to lead on his own, Bezuidenhout said: "Always great to get off to a good start in a Major and hopefully I can continue the good play over the next few days."

The three-time DP World Tour winner is searching for his first win since the South African Open in 2020.

Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick carded the lowest opening round of his Major career, mixing an eagle with three birdies and a bogey to sign for a 67.

"I just felt like I did everything well. Just drove it well, approach play was good, and chipped and putted well. It was just an all-around good day," said the Englishman.

China's Li shot a rare flawless round at Portrush, notching four birdies and keeping the bogeys off his card.

"I've been playing quite solid the whole year so far until the last couple of weeks, so hopefully I'll keep the momentum and have some good results come in," Li said.

English was another who briefly got to five under during his opening round, only for a bogey on the 14th to drop him back to four under.

One shot back on three under is world number one Scottie Scheffler, while home favourite Rory McIlroy made a one-under-par 70 to sit three shots off the lead.

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