Argentinian Amateur Mateo Pulcini Makes Open Debut at Royal Birkdale, Birdies 18th After Early Boos

Mateo Pulcini, the only Argentinian in the field at The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, recorded a five-over-par 75 in round one after holing a 40-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole. Pulcini cupped both hands to his ears in celebration, imitating Enzo Fernandez after Fernandez scored Argentina's first goal in a 2-1 World Cup victory over England.

The amateur, making his Open debut, had been light-heartedly booed on the first tee.

Pulcini said he did not miss a single second of the Argentina-England match. "That celebration came from a 40-foot putt. I was pretty excited, and that came to my mind, and I did it," he said. He added that he did not want to make fun of the match England lost.

"I was expecting a few boos on the first tee, and they came, some of them, but there were almost none," Pulcini said. "People were cheering for me as well. " Round one took place at Royal Birkdale on or before July 16, 2026.