​They say you can’t win the Open Championship on Thursday, but you sure can win a spot in this column.Here’s an assortment of who won (and lost) at Royal Birkdale on Day 1.That would be Matthew Baldwin, who is from Southport, has been a member at Royal Birkdale for 23 years and hit the opening tee shot of Thursday’s first round. He shot a respectable two-over 72, but that moment will stand out:AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“It was an incredible feeling. It was terrifying. It was overwhelming. But it’s something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”That would be Matthew Fitzpatrick, who entered the week as red-hot World No. 3 and arguably the trendiest pick in the field but played a fairly blah opening round of two-over 72.That would be Matthew Wallace, a talented Englishman in his mid-30s who has shockingly never finished better than T40 at the Open. After his first-round 69, he’s in a good position to improve on that number this week.That would be Matthew Jordan, who has become an increasingly popular Open sleeper pick after back-to-back top-10s in 2023 and 2024 but shot seven over on his front nine en route to 77 on Thursday.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat would be Matthew Southgate, who has enlisted ex-Matt Fitzpatrick caddie Billy Foster for this week’s work and made three late birdies en route to an opening 69.Earlier this week, Nick Faldo lit up Bryson DeChambeau’s lack of strategic approach to links golf. This was fun because, in my opinion, golf should have as many former major champs popping off about current players as possible, facts be damned.In this case, though, it was probably an outdated critique. DeChambeau managed his way around St. Andrews quite well en route to T8 in 2022 and bounced back in a big way last year at Royal Portrush, where he shot 78 in the opening round but played great the rest of the way to finish T10. He also won at Pinehurst, which demonstrated a mixture of power and finesse.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementI’m not saying DeChambeau is the most well-rounded player in the world, nor that he has the best game management. But dismiss him at your own peril. His opening three-under 67 was clinical.One of the biggest storylines entering this week was Justin Rose‘s return to Birkdale, where he burst onto the world stage nearly three decades ago. Things got off to a nice start when he birdied the first. Unfortunately for Rose — who has been battling a neck injury — that was as good as it got. He scattered six bogeys and a double throughout the rest of the round and opened with a five-over 75; it’ll be an uphill battle for him to make Friday’s cut.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe biggest storyline entering the week was Tommy Fleetwood — whose return home combined with his excellent form and his best-player-without-a-major status left him in the cool but pressure-packed situation of everybody in the golf world rooting for his success. Thin