TROON, Scotland – Less than 24 hours before the start of this week’s Open Championship, a game of catch broke out in the backyard of the “little frat house” about a mile down the road from Royal Troon. Rickie Fowler had brought a baseball and a couple of gloves to Scotland, so he and Jimmy Walker decided to have a casual toss.

Soon, the other housemates -- Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Jason Dufner and defending Open champ Zach Johnson – joined in the quintessential American activity near the shore of the Firth of Clyde. Eventually, they found other equipment, including tennis balls and a makeshift bat, and started taking a few swings.

Spieth said he “hit a couple of dingers” but the hottest bat belonged to Dufner.

“Duf was on fire,” Spieth noted. Added Fowler: “Duf’s probably got the best swing of us all. He’s a sneaky athlete.”

The session lasted two, maybe three hours, said Thomas. For the guys in the house, it was a chance to step away from the looming business at hand.

“It was great,” said Thomas, who at age 23 is the second-youngest person in the house behind the 22-year-old Spieth. “We were like little kids again. Well, not for me and Jordan, I guess. But them. It was fun.”

Thomas certainly had plenty of fun on Thursday, shooting a 4-under 67 in his first appearance in the Open that puts him near the top of the leaderboard after the first round. Fowler felt good about his 69, Spieth not as much about his even-par 71 in which he struck the ball beautifully but could not convert his birdie opportunities. Walker shot a 72 after suffering a triple-bogey on the back nine.

The four had morning tee times, so after finishing their rounds, they headed back to the house to watch Johnson and Dufner in the afternoon television coverage. “We’ll keep an eye on them,” Fowler said. “Probably heckle them through the TV.”

Sharing a house during tournament week is nothing new for most of the guys, and certainly nothing new for Spieth, Fowler and Thomas, who – along with Smylie Kaufman – went on a “spring break” trip together after the Masters in April.