Open 2026 R1: Suber Shoots 65, Leads at Royal Birkdale

Jackson Suber grabbed the solo lead at 5-under after a bogey-free 65 at Royal Birkdale — the same course now available on Toptracer and GOLF+ VR. Bryson DeChambeau and Collin Morikawa lurk at -3 in a bunched leaderboard. For more on the sim-golf connection, see our Royal Birkdale on GSPro guide and Toptracer Global Challenge coverage.

Round 1: Key Takeaways

Jackson Suber’s bogey-free 65 was the story of the day — the American carded five birdies without a single dropped shot on a Royal Birkdale layout that penalizes errant drives severely. The leaderboard is tightly bunched: nine players sit at -3 or better, setting up an Open championship that could go any direction on moving day.

The Sim-Golf Connection

Royal Birkdale’s LIDAR recreation in GSPro means home sim players can test themselves on the same course the pros are playing this week. The Toptracer Global Challenge running alongside the real Open lets players at partner ranges and sim facilities compete on the same leaderboard format, while the GOLF+ VR Open brings the championship to virtual reality.

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