The Open Round 2 preview: Daniel Brown's lead and Royal Troon's tough conditions - ESPN

TROON, Scotland — On a day when the unpredictable wind and the firm conditions of Royal Troon Golf Club brought many of the world's best golfers to their knees, a lesser known qualifier from England grabbed the first-round lead in the 152nd Open Championship on Thursday.

Daniel Brown, who had missed the cut or withdrawn in seven of his past eight starts on the DP World Tour, carded birdies on two of his last three holes to post a 6-under 65. He has a one-stroke lead over Ireland's Shane Lowry, the 2019 Open Championship winner, and three strokes over two-time major champion Justin Thomas.

PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele was among seven golfers who were four back at 2 under.

Brown grew up playing links golf but was never fond of it — until now.

«I used to hate it,» Brown said. «As an amateur, obviously you play it all the time, and you get a little bit fed up of hitting good shots and end up in pot bunkers sometimes, which is the way it is. But I've found, since I've not really been playing too much links golf, that I've enjoyed it more. I've enjoyed the challenge more and the wind more and the firm conditions.»

Here's what to watch in the second round of The Open on Friday:

The 29-year-old is one of the most unlikely first-round leaders in major championship history. Not only is Brown making his first start in a major, he is also ranked 272nd in the Official World Golf Ranking.

He finished 61st in last week's Genesis Scottish Open, the first time he'd played four rounds in a tournament since tying for 23rd in the Jonsson Workwear Open in South Africa on March 10.

Brown, from Northallerton, England, has one career victory on the DP World Tour at the 2023 ISPS Handa World Invitational, beating Alex Fitzpatrick