Naidoo holds nerve on major debut at Royal Portrush

Considering it was his first major ever – and the final one of the year, with the field hunting the last major title of the season – South Africa’s Dylan Naidoo did well to shoot a three-over-par 74 at Royal Portrush on Thursday.

The 27-year-old played his first round paired with fellow South African Darren Fichardt. Two bogeys and a double bogey on the front nine put Naidoo on the back foot, but he steadied himself with a birdie at the par-four 4th. He closed out the front nine with another bogey, but managed to keep a cool head on the inward half, shooting par from holes 10 through to 14.

Naidoo made his final bogey of the round at the par-four 15th, but followed it up with a birdie on the 17th. His three-over 74 meant he finished the first round tied for 105th alongside Bryson DeChambeau and Sahith Theegala.

On Wednesday, Naidoo’s manager, Anders Davidsson, who is with him in Northern Ireland, said the debutant was in high spirits ahead of his first appearance in a major and his chance to contend for the esteemed Claret Jug.

“I’ve been with Dylan since we arrived and he is in high spirits and really confident,” Davidsson said.

“We all think that the time is right in his career for such a big moment. He’s worked incredibly hard to get here and is looking forward to playing. His family is here to support him as well.”

Christiaan Bezuidenhout, the South African most touted to make a big impact this week, lived up to the hype in round one and finds himself among the early leaders. Bezuidenhout looked in fine form and could very well finish the day tied for first place.

Dean Burmester was still on course at the time of writing but looked solid in 20th position, despite a double bogey and two bogeys in his round. Shaun Norris was also still completing his round.

The 2010 Open winner, Louis Oosthuizen, carded a disappointing six-over 77 that included seven bogeys in a scrappy round for the former champion. But with Oosthuizen, one can never rule out a fightback – and Friday and Saturday may still offer him a route back up the leaderboard.

Fichardt shot a seven-over 78 and will need to stage a strong comeback on Friday if he is to make the cut. Five bogeys and a double bogey left the veteran South African languishing in 147th place.

Daniel van Tonder is close behind after an eight-over 79 in a round riddled with bogeys on both the front and back nine.

The youngest South African in the field, Aldrich Potgieter – who won the PGA Tour’s 2025 Rocket Mortgage Classic – carded a six-over 77 in his opening round. Potgieter endured a difficult stretch with six consecutive bogeys and looked a bit unsettled on Thursday.