Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts has quickly staked his claim for Ryder Cup automatic team selection with a three under par 69 on the opening day of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
Colsaerts, 29 birdied four of five holes mid round to be sharing second place and just one stroke behind Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen as the afternoon half of the draw took to the PGA Centenary course.
- Nicolas Colsaerts on route to a 69 on the first day of the Johnnie Walker Championship. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
Colsaerts arrived in Scotland lying 12th on the European Ryder Cup points table and knowing he needs to finish either first or second if he’s to break into the top-10 and automatically qualify for next month’s Ryder Cup at Medinah.
If not, the double European Tour winner will need a Jose Maria Olazabal ‘wildcard’ pick and thereby become the only rookie in the European side.
“Three under par is a pretty good start and that’s exactly what I wanted this morning,” said Colsaerts.
“I just wanted to make sure I was in control of what I was doing.
“As for the Ryder Cup I can only manage what I do but we’ve only played one round and anybody can still make a great story happen.
“So I will just keep doing what I have been doing and play good golf.”
Denmark’s and defending champion Thomas Bjorn, and who played alongside Colsaerts, also kept himself in frame for a possible wildcard pick in carding a two under par 70.
Bjorn was earlier this week named by Olazabal as one of three vice-captains but with Bjorn on the eve of the Gleneagles event declaring his intention to impress in the likelihood of being a playing member of the team.
And Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey fell foul of the Rules of Golf for a second event running after an incident at the 16th hole or the eighth hole of his round.
Hoey lifted his ball from ‘ground under repair’ and while the round is playing under a preferred lie rule, and instead of taking a shoulder high drop he placed the ball in contrary to the rules.
“I will have to start thinking about situations like that as I was just too quick with my decision,” said Hoey.
“You need to be very careful with the rules and it’s disappointing because I had to disqualify myself from the PGA Championship.”
After receiving an invitation to contest the PGA Championship Hoey disqualified himself following a second round 70 on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island.
Hoey’s ball was imbedded in sand at the ninth hole was while under the rules Hoey was allowed to brush away sand to identify his ball he then broke the rules by not recreating the original lie and replacing the sand on his ball.
However it was not to well after play had concluded Hoey realised his indiscretion and then phoned officials.
And England’s Lloyd Kennedy was all smiles after being presented with an 18-old bottle of Johnnie Walker whisky for a hole-in-one at the 17th hole.
It is Kennedy’s first ace as a professional on route to recording a two under par 70.
Biggest disappointment early on day one was the effort of former U.S. Open champion, Michael Campbell who signed for a 10-over par 82 that included back-to-back eight’s.
