Antalya, Turkey …
Belguim’s Nicolas Colsaerts took full advantage of a new Callaway driver in shooting a seven-under par 64 and share the lead on day one of the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya.
Colsaerts was the very first to tee-off in the $US 7m event and capped his round with a 12th hole eagle along with six birdies and a lone bogey in ideal scoring conditions on the Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort course.
The only real worry for Colsaerts was arriving at the scorer’s hut to find the door locked.
The soon-to-be 35-year old was later joined by South African Haydn Porteous and Dutchman Joost Luiten.
Nicolas Colsaerts shoots Turkish Airlines 64 thanks to new Callaway driver. (Photo – European Tour/Getty Images)
Colsearts round matches a similar 64 he recorded late September in the Portugual Masters and was helped by a decision a week after Portugal to change to a new driver.
“It felt good out there and I was in control of what I was doing all day,” he said.
“It did take a few holes to get going but once I did, I started to get on a roll. I had a nice eagle on 12 that kept everything going including a birdie at the next.
“The big key today was my driver as I have changed to another Callaway driver. It seems like I can do what I want with this one a bit more. I’m really happy with the way it’s been going.
“I’ve been using it since British Masters and the results that I have done or basically because I’m a bit more comfortable off the tee and I can use that good driving, which was, you know, one of the main or key things that I did well in the past.
“Once I’m comfortable off the tee and show up with half a strike, I’m always going to be there.”
Colsearts opening round effort again has boosted hopes of ending a five-year winless drought with a third European Tour victory.
The Johannesburg-born Porteous recorded his equal-lowest European Tour score and in a bogey-free display of seven birdies that matched a 64 he posted during May’s Rocco Forte Open in Sicily.
And Porteous could not have been happier given he is lying 64th on the Race to Dubai and looking to qualify among the top-60 that will contest the season-ending DP World Tour Championship starting on November 16th in Dubai.
“I needed a really big start and put myself in the right foot heading into these next couple of weeks to get me into DP World,” he said.
“So, to shoot a bogey-free 64 is exactly what I was looking for.”
Luiten was also delighted recording his lowest score all season and in his first event since finishing runner-up in last fortnight’s Andalucia Masters in Spain.
“I putted really well all day and holed some really nice, nice putts,” said the 39-year old.
“Finishing second like I did in Spain, coming down the stretch and trying to win a golf tournament, it builds your confidence.
“I knew I was playing well but it’s nice to see some results, as well, coming your way. Hopefully I can keep the same feeling coming down these last three tournaments here.”
Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and Argentina’s Anders Romero share fourth place with six-under par 65s but with Romero given a scare when it was realised South African Richard Sterne had not signed Romerio’s scorecard.
Tour officials gave an hour for Sterne to be located but didn’t need that as he quickly found in the Players Lounge.
Harrington took full advantage of his invitation with a best round all year in an injury-plagued season.
“I played nicely and dDidn’t really get in trouble at any stage during the day,” he said.
“I wasn’t really out of position. A nice number of chances, converted a few of them, and it was a pretty easy 6-under par. I just wish they were all like that.”
Justin Rose, and winner of last week’s WGC – HSBC Champions event in Shanghai, fought back from taking a double-bogey at his second hole to record a two-under par 71.
And England’s Tommy Fleetwood, playing alongside Rose, signed for a level par 71.
