Former Georgia golfer Kevin Kisner shoots 5-under 66 to lead British Open
Former Georgia golfer Kevin Kisner is making his presence known at the 147th Open Championship in Carnoustie, Scotland. The former Dawg is the leader after the first round, shooting a 5-under 66 Thursday.
Kisner began the day slow, hitting a bogey on the fifth hole after four opening pars. But he rebounded quick, with a long eagle putt on the par-5 sixth hole to negate the bogey. The rest of the day was smooth sailing for Kisner, who hit four more birdies, including three-in-a-row from the 13th to 15th hole. Kisner, who needed just 22 putts in his opening round, took an early lead into the clubhouse and held it.
Hitting the green is overrated. @K_Kisner rolls in an eagle at the par-5 sixth. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/zt6Vyr8MTi
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 19, 2018
“If I can keep it in the fairway, I feel like I can control my golf ball around the green,” Kisner said, according to the Associated Press. “The greens are calm, and around the greens are flat. I feel like any time I’m around the green I’m going to make 4 or par at the worst. So that’s been my game plan.”
It was a good day for Kisner in Carnoustie, and it seems his good times extend beyond the course. Kisner, who has a reputation for partying, admitted to having a “frat” atmosphere in the house he’s sharing with Jordan Spieth, Jason Dufner, Zach Johnson, Jimmy Walker, Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler, where the group has been playing nightly soccer games. You can take the Georgia out of the boy …
“Jordan scored when Duf tripped, it was hilarious,” Kisner said, according to Rex Hoggard of the Golf Channel. “[Spieth] is good until he sends it over the goal four houses over, and we’ve got to go knock on a neighbor’s door for the soccer ball.”
Kisner will tee off for the second round alongside Thomas Pieters and Marcus Kinhult at 7:53 a.m. ET Friday. You can catch the action on the Golf Channel.
