World No. 2 Lee Westwood admitted to getting lost on a number of occasions before finding his way to a share of a new course record on day one of the Barclays Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.
Westwood eagled his ninth hole and recorded six birdies on the stunning Gil Hanse designed course in a seven under par 65 before being joined by Chilean and European Tour rookie, Mark Tullo.
Lee Westwood with defending Barclays Scottish Open winner, Edoardo Molinari but admits to getting 'lost' during a round of 65. (Photo - Stuart Adams)
“I couldn’t find a couple of tees, lost direction, so there was a nice naivety to my play out there,” said Westwood smiling.
“I had only played nine holes on Monday and then yesterday, and with conditions miserable, I spent most of the day walking around behind an umbrella.
”So I had to ask where some of the next tees where.”
Westwood capped his round at the par five, 18th that he was playing as his ninth, when he hit a 3-iron 252-yards to six feet behind the flagstick and holed the eagle putt.
And among the spectators following Westwood was Manchester United Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.
“You know what a big Man United fan I am, couldn’t miss,” said Westwood again smiling given he’s a devout Nottingham Forest FC fan.
Tullo is competing on the European Tour full time for a first occasion in his career.
The 33-year old triple Chilean Open winner birdied his opening four holes and then five of his closing nine in his best round in his rookie season.
Three players, South African George Coetzee, Sweden’s Peter Hanson and in-form Dane Thorbjorn Olesen recorded six under par 66s.
Olesen missed a two-foot on the final green at last Sunday’s French Open that would have put him into a play-off.
Thirteen players, among them World No. 1 Luke Donald and defending Scottish Open champion, Edoardo Molinari, and Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie are well placed on five under par with 67s.
Monty boosted hopes of qualifying for next week’s Open Championship in recording an eagle and five birdies but let slip a share of third place among those out in the morning half of the draw when he bogeyed the last after a poor drive.
Colin Montgomerie plays a shot from a bunker at the third hole to keep hopes alive of contesting next week's Open Championship. (Photo - Stuart Adams)
“I played as well as I have for a long time but bogeyed two easy holes, the third and ninth that everyone seems to be birdying, so there’s a four-shot swing,” said Montgomerie.
“It was also disappointing to bogey my last, the ninth, and to miss the ninth fairway is a disaster, the thing is 110 yards wide and I went to the top left trying to get close in two and just found an impossible lie.
“But I came here for a reason and that is to get as many World Ranking points and the Race to Dubai, but also to get into The Open Championship, as well,” he said.
Monty has contested event British Open since making his debut in 1990 at St. Andrews.
However to qualify for Royal St. George’s he needs to finish among the top five and also the
Colin Montgomerie boosted hopes of qualifying for next week’s Open Championship with a five under par 67.
Monty recorded an eagle and five birdies but let slip a share of third place among those out in the morning half of the draw when he bogeyed the last after a poor drive.
“I played as well as I have for a long time but bogeyed two easy holes, the third and ninth that everyone seems to be birdying, so there’s a four-shot swing,” said Montgomerie.
“It was also disappointing to bogey my last, the ninth, and to miss the ninth fairway is a disaster, the thing is 110 yards wide and I went to the top left trying to get close in two and just found an impossible lie.
“But I came here for a reason and that is to get as many World Ranking points and the Race to Dubai, but also to get into The Open Championship, as well,” he said.
Monty has contested event British Open since making his debut in 1990 at St. Andrews.
However to qualify for Royal St. George’s he needs to finish among the top five and also the be the leading non-exempt player.
Former U.S. Open champion, Michael Campbell continues his welcome return to form in signing for a four under par 68.
Welshman Phil Price recorded the very first hole-in-one at Castle Stuart when he aced the par three 11th hole.
