But Rory McIlroy’s hopes of ending a 12-year wait to win his home major are hanging by a thread after a two over par 72.
Suber, ranked 115th in the world, had a first ever round at the British Open to remember.
After making the turn at level par, he picked up five shots in the next eight holes, topped off by an eagle on the 17th to give him a one-shot lead from England’s Daniel Brown and South Korean Im Sung-jae.
The 26-year-old is playing in just his third major and had never experienced European golf until his first practice round on Monday.
“Monday was my first round of links golf, so I’ve played 27 holes before I played the first round today. I’ve never been to Europe,” said Suber.
“Things just really started going after the birdie on 10. I just felt like the momentum was really in my favour.”
Scheffler made a steady start to his defence of the tournament with a two under par 68.
After his record of 78 successive cuts made dating back four years came to an end at last week’s Scottish Open, Scheffler looked refreshed with four birdies in five holes between the second and the sixth.
But bogeys at the seventh and par-five 17th dropped him back and a birdie putt at the last came to a halt just inches shy of the hole.
“I got off to a hot start in the round today and wasn’t able to make as many birdies as I would have hoped to down the stretch,” said Scheffler, who has not won on the PGA Tour since January.
“If I continue to strike the ball the way I did today and just keep giving myself looks, that’s part of it. Golf is played over 72 holes, and I definitely liked what I saw today.” (AFP)
