Rangers fan Scott Jamieson paid tribute to the Dutch defended Fernando Ricksen in heading the Scottish contingent on the opening day of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Jamieson had the alarm set for 4.30am to out in the very first group at 7am and produced to snatch five birdies, including birdies on the closing two holes, in a four-under par 68.
It left the 35-year old Glaswegian trailing three shots adrift of England’s Matt Wallace who posted a blistering bogey-free seven-under par 65.
Jamieson’s Surrey showing is only the fourth occasion the now Florida-based Scot has broken 70 in 27 loops around the famed ‘Burma Road’ course in Surrey.
Scotland’s Scott Jamieson pays tribute to the late Fernando Ricksen in leading the Scots on day one of the BMW PGA (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Jamieson said: “It was a good morning’s work, so it was a nice start.
“It was tough early given it was cold, and with the ball going nowhere while the rough seems so thick in the morning as it’s so wet.
“Though I played a practice round early on Tuesday so I knew that going out and that I would have to hit fairways early on but it’s Wentworth and you get through the opening four holes in level par and you’re in pretty good shape.”
A week ago, Jamieson led after two rounds of the KLM Open but faded over the weekend, and as he seeks only a second Tour title, to finish just outside the top-20 in Amsterdam.
The massive outpouring of grief after the death of Rangers star defender, Fernando Rickens
He said: “My putting has been good for a while and it’s definitely been the strength of my game for the last few years, and I just need the rest of my game to catch-up.
“If I drive ball well, I should be in contention to win.
“Last week at the KLM Open, I didn’t start Saturday or Sunday well as I was struggling off the tee and then I got in position on the back nine on Sunday and shot 3-under, so I never thought the game was that far away, and I just need to find a way to keep a hold of it longer.”
Jamieson, and like all football fans, said he was saddened to learn of the passing of Rickens but even moreso having met the Dutch legend on a few occasions.
He said: “It is very sad news. I had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of times, so I do feel very fortunate and lucky to have had that pleasure.
“He was just a guy, and I imagine if you played against him in the opposite team, that you just loved to hate. I am sure he would not mind you saying that about him.
“He was also always that player you’d love to have in your team but he was a bit banana’s, at times. Though he was phenomenal for Rangers and will be very sadly missed.”
Scotland’s top-two ranked Russell Knox and Robert McIntyre are next best in posting three-under par 69s.
Knox, who failed to break 70 in two prior BMW PGA showings, grabbed four birdies, including three over his back nine, and competing alongside Presidents Cup Captain, Ernie Els who shot a 68.
Knox said: “A 69 is a miracle, to be honest as I finally got my stuff together on the back nine and it’s probably one of my best rounds I’ve in a long time.
“I started off like a 15-handicapper but I managed to save pars. I had a good attitude, stuck at it and eventually got comfortable so pretty happy.
“It was good playing with Ernie. He was good to me a long time ago and I always remember that.
“Looking at the board, the Scots are doing well. With me having a couple of good years in the U.S., it’s good to see Bob (McIntyre) doing well over here. He seems to do well every week.
“Scott (Jamieson) and myself are nearly neighbours so it’s good that they are playing well. Hopefully we can keep it going.”
McIntyre teed-up in the event for a first time dropping a shot at the first but then raced to five-under with six birdies from the fourth to 12th holes only to take some gloss from his round with bogeys on 15 and 16.
The Oban lefty said: “To walk off three-under is a bit disappointing but I will take that after a bogey start, and that was the result of taking driver that found the fairway but kicked straight right into the rough, and then played a poor bunker shot.
“The good also my wrist was fine and I’m still taking pain-killers but the good thing nothing is broken.”
McIntyre spoke of meeting European Ryder Cup captain, Padraig Harrington for a first time when the duo was grouped for the opening two rounds of the recent European Masters in Switzerland.
And the young Scot’s comments come after Harrington singled out McIntyre for praise in announcing Sweden’s Robert Karlsson as his first Whistling Straits vice-captain.
McIntyre said: “I walked to Padraig on the first tee in Crans and said ‘Hi, I’m Bob’ and we had a bit of a joke before we actually teed-up.
“But while I respect him as the Ryder Cup captain, he’s another guy out here you have to beat”.
