2026 Open Championship Round 2: Jackson Suber Leads at Royal Birkdale, Stars in Pursuit

Unknown Pro Takes Pole at Royal Birkdale

The 2026 Open Championship is underway at Royal Birkdale in England, and the first-round story belongs to an unlikely protagonist. Jackson Suber, a 26-year-old American largely unknown to the broader golf world, fired a stunning 65 (-5) to seize a one-shot lead heading into Round 2.

Star-Studded Leaderboard in Pursuit

Just one stroke back sit Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Young at -3, while defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa are tied at -2. The concentration of world-class talent within two shots of the lead sets up an explosive second round.

Japanese Contenders to Watch

Several Japanese players are among the field vying for the cut. Hideki Matsuyama tees off at 9:31 a.m. ET alongside Ben Griffin and Min Woo Lee, while Keita Nakajima, Kazuki Higa, Ryo Hisatsune, and Kota Kaneko also have second-round assignments.

How to Watch Round 2

- Peacock: Streaming from 1:30 a.m. ET, plus featured groups all day - USA Network: TV coverage 4 a.m.–3:30 p.m. ET - Golf Channel Mobile: Stream the USA broadcast online

Strokeslab Perspective

Suber's 65 deserves deeper scrutiny through a Strokes Gained lens — which categories drove that performance will determine whether it holds up under pressure on a links course known to punish mistakes. With so many elite players compressed within two shots, SG: Approach and SG: Putting will likely separate the contenders from the pretenders in Round 2.