mystery thriller
British Open 2024: This surprise contender earned one of the great golf nicknames of all time on Thursday
Harry How
Major winners Shane Lowry, Justin Thomas, Justin Rose, Xander Schaffele, Brooks Koepka, Matt Fitzpatrick and Scottie Scheffler are all in (or right around) the top ten after strong opening rounds at Royal Troon. That’s a terrifying leaderboard, especially for a major, but if anyone can figure out how to survive when things get tough, it’s “The Da Vinci Code.”
We’re unsure if that absurd nickname will stick for 29-year-old Englishman Daniel Brown but for just his third PGA Tour event, Brown looks like he’ll be sticking around for the long haul. With six birdies and no bogeys over his first 18 holes at the 2024 British Open, Brown has proven to be a surprise contender at what’s shaping up to be a big-names horserace. He even drained a 41-foot birdie putt on "The Railway."
You might be wondering why Brown has received his glorious new moniker “The Da Vinci Code,” and the answer to that is both ingenious and head-slappingly simple: The author of the bestselling book series, which spawned the Tom Hanks film adaptations, is named Dan Brown. Sometimes things just work out.
Many on Golf Twitter, always the home for a silly joke, have joined in on the fun. The broadcast even caught wind, making a similar reference to the first-round leader's new alias.
Just like protagonist Robert Langdon, Brown may have discovered something just in time. His last eight DP World Tour starts included six missed cuts, a WD and a 61st-place finish. Right near the tip-top of the Open Championship is certainly a nice little jump.
“How’d he make it to this major?” you’re probably wondering. Well, according to the Open, “the 29-year-old now plays his maiden major thanks to a closing 20-foot putt in the 36-hole Final Qualifying event at West Lancashire on July 2.” Because, of course.
This is his third event ever on the PGA Tour after last week’s Genesis Scottish Open and the 2023 Barbasol Championship (in which he finished T-7). What a time for Daniel Brown to play some of the best golf of his career. You couldn’t write such an insane story ... actually, we know one man who could take a crack at it.
MORE GOLF DIGEST BRITISH OPEN COVERAGE
British Open 101: Answering all your frequently asked questions
How to watch the British Open on TV and streaming
Tee times for Rounds 1 and 2 at Troon
Power Rankings: Every player in the field at Royal Troon
Video: Every hole at Royal Troon
How hard can the 123-yard Postage Stamp hole really be? Our deep-dive explanation
Tiger Woods and when enough is enough
History of the claret jug: 152 years of triumphs, dents and lots of drinking
How Brian Harman (aka ‘The Butcher of Hoylake’) beat the British tabloids
Rory McIlroy’s media blowoff reignites debate about obligation in the face of frustration
Links golf interactive: What shots you should play on a links course