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British Open: Kuchar posts career-best in major to share lead

9 years ago in Sports

Matt Kuchar of the United States plays off the 15th tee during the first round of the British Open Golf Championship, at Royal Birkdale, Southport, England Thursday, July 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) Photo: Associated Press/Alastair Grant

SOUTHPORT, England (AP) — Matt Kuchar matched the best front-nine score ever at Royal Birkdale. And even following that with nothing but pars on the back nine, the American still shot his best score in a major.

Kuchar saved par from behind the 18th green and shot 5-under 65 to share the lead with Jordan Spieth and U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka in the opening round of the British Open.

With three straight birdies and a 29, he tied the record that Ian Baker-Finch set in 1991 when he won the claret jug. Kuchar missed good birdie opportunities on the par-5 15th and 17th holes. Even so, it beats by one shot his previous best — a 66 in the second round at Oak Hill in the 2013 PGA Championship.

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