Sharma one-under through 16 in company of leader and world no. 1 Koepka

Shubhankar Sharma holed a monstrous 40-footer for a birdie after a steady stream of pars to get to one-under in his first round of the 148th Open Championships, here.

He was one-under through 16 holes as the course did offer birdies but made players work for it.

Sharma played in elite company of world number one Brooks Koepka, who has been the most dominant golfer in the last couple of years with four Major wins in nine starts.

He is adapting to Links golf too as he was four-under through 14 and shared the lead with early leader Scotsman Shane Lowry (67).

Sharma, playing his second Open, has been drawn with Koepka and Africa No. 1 Louis Oosthuizen, who was three-under after 15.

The trio played in weather that saw rain making regular appearances with some respite in between. But when it did come down, it often came down hard.

Sharma had a couple of birdie chances but also made some good pars on a course that was tricky and put premium on good placements in many places.

Koepka birdied Par-5 second, fifth, Par-5 12th and 14th and missed out only one Par-5, the seventh, which he parred. He had no bogeys so far.