Sharma returns bogey-free round

Sharma, playing with World No. 1 Brooks Koepka (68), had 17 pars and his sole birdie was courtesy a brilliant 30-foot monster putt and when play ended he was Tied-20th and four shots behind sole leader J B Holmes, who birdied the 18th to move to five-under. Ireland’s Shane Lowry was second at four-under, while 13 players, including Asia’s top star Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who is nursing an injury, shot three-under 68 to be tied-third and the big bunch included Koepka.

Sharma was one of the four players to shoot a bogey free round and the others were Kiradech Aphibarnrat (68), Tony Finau (68) and Tommy Fleetwood (68). As the Open returned to Portrush after 68 years, the conditions were demanding and the course required a great deal of focus with premium on placement.