Five takeaways from the first round of the Genesis Scottish Open

It was nice to finally be back at a links course on Thursday for the opening round of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club.

And we already had some carnage.

Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 U.S. Open champion, found himself in a few precarious situations during the first round thanks to some pot bunkers, and Viktor Hovland followed up a cold shank with a duff.

Gotta love golf in Scotland.

Fourteen of the world’s top 15 ranked players teed it up Thursday, and due to the wind that picked up in the afternoon, many were left behind by the early wave that was able to take advantage of better scoring conditions.

Here are five takeaways from the first round at The Renaissance. Let’s start with the man atop the leaderboard.

Scottish Open: PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ | Leaderboard

Cameron Tringale ties course record

Cameron Tringale of USA reacts on the 18th during Day One of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 07, 2022, in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Tringale was unconscious with the flat-stick on Thursday, at one point draining six birdie putts in a row and nine in 11 holes, including a 40-foot bomb on the par-4 11th.

“My putter got red hot and that’s how you do it,” he said after his round.

Yes, Cameron, that’s how you get the job done.

Not a bad opening 18 for the American who leads the list of most money earned on the PGA Tour with a victory.

“I haven’t had a professional win on my own, and obviously Scotland is where golf started, so this place is special. Everyone here has appreciation for the game,” he said after his round.

LIV-ing atop the leaderboard

Justin Harding of South Africa tees off the 18th during Day One of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 07, 2022, in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

See what I did there? Anyway, Justin Harding wasn’t supposed to play this week. On June 24, the DP World Tour came down on LIV Golf defectors with sanctions, including a suspension and ban from the Scottish Open, an event the DP World Tour is co-sanctioning with the PGA Tour.

However, on July 4, sanctions for three players, including Harding and Ian Poulter, were stayed, opening the door for them to play at The Renaissance this week.

He’s taken advantage of the opportunity so far, opening with a bogey-free, 5-under 65.

Pot bunkers…