Last week’s Old Course local hero George Murray was lucky to make his tee time after sleeping through a wake-up call on the opening day of the Madrid Masters.
The 28-year old Murray had turned off the alarm on his mobile after being awoken earlier in the night but there was then some panic when Murray awoke to find he had missed his transport to the El Encin course.
Fortunately for the Anstruther star he got to the course and managed an hour’s practice before shooting a respectable three under par 69.
“I got a very early call and rather than be disturbed again I turned the alarm off my phone,” said Murray.
“I had the alarm set for 6.45 but missed the bus to the course but then get here with jsut over an hour to prepare so I was a little unsettled early on.”
Murray’s demeanour reflected in his scoring as he played his front nine in one over par with eight pars and a bogey.
However Scotland’s hero from last week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship settled down to play his inward nine in four under.
Murray capped his round by holing a 30-foot putt for eagle at his 13th hole.
“I just felt a lot more settled over my inward half and began playing like I did last week back home in Scotland,” said Murray.
“The game seems to be so much easier when you’re relaxed.”
Murray is playing the opening two rounds on the company of former Open Champion, Paul Lawrie but it will be an all-Scottish grouping today (FRD) as England’s Simon Khan was forced to withdraw after seven holes due to a neck injury.
England’s Ross McGowan, winner of the event two years ago, established a new course record of an eight under par 64.
McGowan birdied five holes in succession mid round to be handed the inaugural record after tournament host, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano lipped out for par at the last in a 65.
Castano shares second place with Australia’s Brett Rumford and Italy’s Lorenzo Gagli who was involved in a five-man play-off at the recent Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
