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Sepp Straka closed his opening round at The Open in the best way possible, making an impressive birdie shot from just outside the green. In what’s been a difficult day for golfers, Straka finished on a high note.
The shot was one of the best we’ve seen to this point, and it allowed him to close at even par. Fans have quickly taken note of the crafty shot.
The Royal Liverpool Golf Course is testing the nerves of the field in this opening round. The 17th hole, in particular, has led to frustrating results given its array of hazards surrounding the cup.
Straka was able to make it through No. 17 unscathed, shooting even on the Par-3. He’d carry that momentum over into the 18th hole with an impressive shot to birdie.
Sitting just off the green, the Austrian chipped in the perfect shot. Taking the slope of the course into account, he did somewhat of a bank-shot above a bunker then used that uneven terrain to his advantage.
Sepp Straka with a phenomenal chip over the bunker for birdie on the 18th! 🔥
📺: @USAnetwork | #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/tAaQuq53cD
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 20, 2023
Golf fans online were quick to react.
One account said, “That was filthy.”
Another wrote, “Wonderful imagination. Perfect execution.”
This post read, “Sepp Straka taking the term up-and-down literally,” in response to the birdie.
It was certainly an impressive way to end the day for Straka, who entered as a longshot to win the event. He currently sits in a tie for 30th place at even par.