Aussie McLeod upbeat after Open debut

Australia's major championship debutant Jake McLeod is drawing the positives out of his nerve-wracking first round at the British Open.

By Darren Walton, Australian Associated Press

Jake McLeod will take a "nothing to lose" approach into the British Open second round after finishing his major championship debut 10 strokes off the pace.

McLeod birdied the famous par-3 16th at Royal Portrush but that was as good as it got for the Australian rookie on Thursday.

But having beaten the likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and celebrated countrymen Adam Scott and Marc Leishman, the 24-year-old wasn't too down on himself.

"First tee shot was a bit nerve wracking but hit a good tee shot, which was nice. Had a nice par at the first, which was settling," McLeod told AAP.

"I enjoyed the day out there."

But the 2018 Australasian Order of Merit winner, who has missed the cut in his past three events in Europe, lamented not cashing in on the birdie holes.

"It was just the same sort of story as the last few weeks; I feel like the game's there but I'm just not putting any scores together, not making enough birdies and making a few too many mistakes," McLeod said.

"It's definitely not easy. There's a few opportunities and I felt like on the downwind holes that I didn't convert, when you really should.

"I'm looking forward to tomorrow, coming back out there and just having a really good crack and being pretty aggressive.

"Today I was thinking about some other things, some outside factors, first time here and just not playing my normal game.

"I'll just go out there and try and have some fun."


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