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Christiaan Bezuidenhout Opens with 67 at Royal Portrush to Challenge the Open Lead

His strong start highlights a journey of resilience shaped by overcoming near-fatal poisoning at age two.

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Christiaan Bezuidenhout is competing in his sixth consecutive Open Championship.
Bezuidenhout, seen here during day two of The 153rd Open Championship, swallowed rat poison accidentally as a two-year-old.
PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 17: Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa looks across the golf course during Day One of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 17, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

Overview

  • He opened the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush with a four-under 67 to claim an early share of the lead.
  • He followed with a two-over 73 in the second round that dropped him back but left him within striking distance for the weekend.
  • Bezuidenhout has ten professional wins since turning pro in 2015, including DP World Tour titles and the South African Open, though he still seeks his first major title.
  • At age two he survived accidentally drinking rat poison, an ordeal that damaged his nervous system and led to a lifelong stutter.
  • In 2014 he served a nine-month suspension after testing positive for prescribed beta blockers taken to manage anxiety linked to his speech impediment.