Peacock Poulter struts his way through a resurgent summerIan Poulter was back to his very best at Royal Birkdale on Thursday, with even playing partner Russell Knox commending his putting. Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesFacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerEmailcomment12:00 PM ETJason SobelESPN Senior Writer Close Covered golf since 2004
Former writer at Golf Channel
Winner of four Emmys while at ESPNFacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmailprintcommentSOUTHPORT, England — Ian Poulter struts. That's the only way to explain his demeanor when he's playing well. He struts after knocking precise iron shots toward the hole, struts after making birdie putts from all angles. He is golf's version of a peacock with its tail feathers up, proudly boasting his way around the course.
And there he was strutting again on Thursday. He strutted after each of his four birdies, then strutted some more after completing a 3-under 67 in the first round of the 146th Open Championship — wheth..

Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, Matt Kuchar shoot 5-underFacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerEmailcomment6:29 PM ETAssociated Press FacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmailprintcommentSOUTHPORT, England — The wind off the Irish Sea pushed away the rain clouds and bathed Royal Birkdale in sunshine, Stars and Stripes.
The Open Championship began Thursday with an All-American flavor.
Jordan Spieth, chomping away on gum as he watched one putt after another pour into the center of the cup, worked some bunker magic of his own late in the round to keep his card filled only with birdies and pars for a 5-under 65.
Editor's PicksRound 1 Open grades — Top 10 turned it aroundThe world's top 10 fared miserably at the U.S. Open with six missing the cut. After 18 holes at Royal Birkdale, it's a different story. So did their grades go up at The Open?
W2W4: Who has most work to do in Round 2?Who are the players who need to keep their wits about them on Friday just to make it to Satur..

Schwartzel left jilted after beautiful Birkdale spurns his advancesCharl Schwartzel briefly held a share of the lead during his second round at The Open, but he was left broken by cross winds and bad fortune. Warren Little/R&A/R&A via Getty ImagesFacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerEmailcomment4:09 PM ETMatt CooperSpecial to ESPN.com CloseMatt Cooper is a golf writer from the United Kingdom who has worked for SkySports.com and SportingLife.com. He is a writer for Golf365.com and a number of print magazines.FacebookTwitterFacebook MessengerPinterestEmailprintcommentSOUTHPORT, England — Charl Schwartzel cut a sorry figure at the conclusion of his second-round 78 that promised so much more.
Royal Birkdale hadn't so much broken him as broken up with him. This weekend at the Open Championship — his 4-over total leaves him just on the favorable side of the expected cut line — he will be like the boyfriend who has to attend a weekend family get-together with the girlfriend who just dumpe..