Golfer Dan Brown is facing potential repercussions from officials at The Open after admitting to smoking between seven and eight cigarettes during the first round at Royal Birkdale. His actions come despite explicit warnings about fire hazards on the course due to dry conditions.
Brown, who finished 10th at The Open in 2024, posted a score of 66 on Thursday, placing him in contention for the Claret Jug. However, his on-course habits drew attention, as he was seen smoking a number of cigarettes.
"I've not been told otherwise (on whether players will be prevented from lighting up)," Brown stated. "But I've been making sure that they are put out."
He acknowledged that stress can lead to increased smoking and expressed concern about his performance if restricted. "There might be a big drop-off (in his level of play) by Sunday if I'm not allowed to. Stress levels go up, then the more I end up having."
Brown, currently ranked world No. 136, previously gained wider recognition at The Open in Troon in 2024, where he led before finishing 10th. He believes he is a more capable player now than he was two years ago and aims to remain competitive on the leaderboard through Sunday.
"I feel like I can compete in a major and in an Open Championship," Brown said. "I feel like I'm a better player now to what I was back then, two years ago. So we will see. Obviously it's only Thursday, but hopefully I'm in a sort of similar area on the leaderboard come Sunday."
He noted that his play tee-to-green felt similar to recent performances, but that several putts dropped during his opening round, a welcome change from his recent form. The world No. 136's previous Open performance, despite the result, was noted for his strong play. His father, a former smoker, inspired Brown to quit, ironically leading to Brown's own start in smoking.
