SOUTHPORT, England — Jordan Spieth stood over a six-foot birdie putt on his last hole to tie the first-round record at the British Open at Royal Birkdale on Thursday. In 1983, Craig Stadler opened with a 64, and the next three times the tournament was held here, nobody started better.

Spieth already had drained four attempts in the six-to-eight-foot range either for birdie or par on Thursday in a putting display that a member of his group, Henrik Stenson, said was reminiscent of Spieth’s mastery of the greens when he won the Masters in 2015.

After Spieth sank an eight-footer on the 16th to save par, his caddie, Michael Greller, made his way to the 17th tee and said under his breath, “He willed it in.”

But the putt on 18 would not bend to Spieth’s will. He made par for a five-under 65, which gave him a share of the lead with his fellow Americans Matt Kuchar and Brooks Koepka, who is making his first start since winning the United States Open last month.