Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher brilliantly produced the lowest round of his 28-year year career with an eight under par 62 on the opening day of the third edition of the Saudi International.
The effort is the now 46-year old’s lowest score in 1,823 rounds over 584 European Tour events since a then 20-year old made his Tour debut at the 1993 Scottish Open.
Gallacher had previously posted a handful of 63s, including an opening 63 on route to victory in the 2013 Omega Dubai Desert Classic, but now the four-time winning Scot has gone one better albeit it on the stunning par-70 layout overlooking the Red Sea.
England’s David Horsey admitted he was ‘shocked’ in setting the early clubhouse lead in shooting a nine-under par 61 to match the Saudi course record set by Dustin Johnson on day two in the 2019 maiden event.
Horsey was two-under thanks to birdies at the fifth and sixth holes but then muscled his way to the top thanks to five birdies in succession from the 10th hole.
“It’s a shock actually”, said Horsey. “I’ve been playing rubbish the last couple weeks. Didn’t feel like I controlled my ball the first two events.
“Yeah, sort of had a conversation with a pal back home last night, talking a few things through and suggested something that I work on away from the tournament.
“Knowing me, I thought, well, can’t get any worse, so I may as well try it and here we are”.
Gallacher commenced his round from the 10th hole of the Royal Greens course to make the turn in two-under par thanks to four birdies and two bogeys on the stunning par-7o layout overlooking the Red Sea.
Stevie Gallacher chuffed to have posted a career low 62 on the opening day of the 2021 Saudi International
The 46-year old, and with son Jack still calling the shots, then burst up the board with six inward half birdies, including five in succession from his 13th hole.
“It was good. I actually hit it really close to the pin today which was good, and I managed to hole those sort of ten-foot putts for birdie I had. Yeah, it was one of those sort of just go on a roll and kept knocking them in,” said Gallacher.
MORE TO FOLLOW
