Overview

• Hideki Matsuyama completed a nine-hole practice round to assess Royal Portrush’s layout and wind conditions.
• Riki Kawamoto cautioned that shifting wind directions could drastically alter club selection, expressing confidence in his form for a Sunday finish.
• Rikuya Hoshino restricted practice to approaches and putting with lingering neck pain and hand numbness; he maintained strong motivation to compete.
• The Open Championship launches Thursday as golf’s oldest major returns to Royal Portrush for the first time since 1951.
• Players honed links-specific adaptations on firm turf with mapped shifts in wind direction to guide shot placements.