Scotland’s Callum Hill superbly stamped his presence with a sizzling European Tour best of 63 on the opening day of the Hero Open at the Fairmont Resort at St. Andrews.
The Crook of Devon golfer blasted out nine birdies in ideal scoring conditions as the 26-year-old chases a long overdue maiden Tour victory.
Hill’s effort, that included four birdies in succession from his third hole and then three in a row from the 15th, is his best in 56 rounds competing on the Tour and one fewer than a trio of 64s in his main Tour career including a 64 earlier this year at the Magical Kenya Open.
Hill said: “I putted well today and that was the key and I didn’t put the ball in places that caused me too much bother.
“One of my better putts was at on the hole number one where I made a 15-footer to dave par.
“We also got the best of the weather one-hundred per cent. Our front nine was relatively calm, probably half-a-club wind, then back nine picked up.
“We got to play three quarters of our day in quite pleasant conditions, and with it getting much windier as we finished, so took advantage”.
And helping Hill edge closer to that maiden Tour title was the welcome support of family and friends.
He said: “I really enjoy playing at home. There’s a lot of family and friends who can come and watch, I always enjoy playing in front of people I know. It makes it good fun.
“I’ve got Mum, Dad, cousins, uncles and a few friends this week.
“I seem to enjoy it. When people are watching and rooting for me it gives me a little spur – I like it.”
Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Caldwell, and winner of the recent Scandinavian Mixed event is a shot back in posting a 64 and highlighting his round his holing his second shot for an eagle ‘2’ at the par-4 seventh.
He said: “I played well in Sweden but then a few weeks later it didn’t feel it was quite there. Then you’re always looking for something.
“It’s like a pendulum, you go one way with something and you’ve got to get back to where you were. Slowly getting back to where I was from Sweden form.
Three players – England’s Ross Fisher, American Chase Hanna and Frenchman Robin Sciot-Siegrist – share third place with rounds of 65.
Richie Ramsay and David Law are next best of the big contingent of 17 Scots in signing for 65s and one fewer than Grant Forrest.
Ramsay capped his bogey-free display with three birdies in four holes over his outward half.
