Scott Jamieson returned from four weeks off to post five birdies in succession in a sizzling six-under par 66 on the opening day of the Thailand Classsic.
The Scot didn’t drop a shot in the heatwave conditions to be standing tall and just two shots from the lead on the Black Mountain course.
American Peter Uihein heads the co-sanctioned at eight under par by a stroke from Swede Pelle Egberg.
Jamieson’s effort is his equal lowest this year in 19 rounds and in an effort that included just 25 putts.
And it’s put him straight into contention to win for only a second time on the European Tour since capturing the rain-reduced 2013 Nelson Mandela Championship.
Scott Jamieson (SCO) in action on the 8th during Round 1 of the True Thailand Classic, at the Black Mountain Golf Club, Hua Hin, Thailand. 10/03/2016. Picture: Golffile | Thos Caffrey.
All photos usage must carry mandatory copyright credit (© Golffile | Thos Caffrey).
He said: “After having four weeks off you are never quite sure how well you are going to play, so to have no bogeys on the card was a pleasant surprise.
“I started off a bit shaky missing the first three greens but had some good up-and-downs to save par then my confidence got going, and I started to hit some good shots.
“I then birdied the 16th which was my seventh and before you know it I birdied four more in a row and I was five under after 11 holes.
“I then played the remaining seven in one under, so to finish six under after a month’s break was a nice way to get back into competition.”
Jamieson had spent the month working hard on his game, including taking a two week break to return to Florida with his young family.
It is his equal best score since a similar 66 on day three of last month’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
While it is Jamieson’s lowest starting round in six months since a 65 to kick start his Russian Open campaign.
And while Jamieson has managed to retain his card at the end of each season since joining the Tour full-time in 2011, the now 31-year old is conscious of getting a second win under his belt.
He said: “The first three years on Tour could not have gone any better as there was definitely an upward trend.
“But then I’ve certainly stalled over my last two years, and then at the end of last year I did struggle and just managed to get over the line at the end to hold onto my Tour card.
“So something had to change but then last year was arguably my most consistent year and especially from a results point of view making a lot of cuts but I didn’t have one top-10.
“So the good thing about this season already is that I’ve made the cut in three of the four events I’ve played.”
Thai-based Scot Simon Yates is only a shot behind Jamieson with a five under par 67 that included five birdied from his 10th to 16th holes.
And Marc Warren had seven birdies in a four under par 68.
