CARNOUSTIE, Scotland — Kevin Kisner spent the night before Thursday’s first round of the British Open playing backyard soccer at a rental home with his housemates, a group that included five golfers with a combined eight major golf championships.
There was little golf talk, however. Most of the attention was focused on a sometimes-comedic penalty-kick competition — more on that later — involving golf luminaries like Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.
The laid-back atmosphere apparently inspired Kisner. He had never finished better than a tie for 54th in three previous British Opens, but Kisner finished Thursday in sole possession of the lead, at five-under-par 66, behind an early eagle and four subsequent birdies.