Carnoustie, Scotland …
Six of Europe’s defeated Ryder Cup stars at least found no complaints with crowd behaviour in their return to the European Tour.
In fact, the likes of Masters Champion, Danny Willett and record-breaking rookie, Thomas Pieters singled out the Scottish spectators for praise on day one of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Willett and Pieters were competing at Carnoustie and one of three venues hosting the $US 5m championship.
Willett was off to a poor start with two bogeys in his opening three holes ahead of signing for a one over par 73 in the bright but windy conditions.
Four days after Hazeltine – Martin Kaymer and his father Horst clearly enjoying the relaxed atomsphere of the Dunhill LInks. (Photo – European Tour)
However, unlike the crowd behaviour last week at Hazeltine, and where Willett complained about personal spectator attacks on his wife and parents, there was no such concern as he walked the Carnoustie course.
“It’s been great and we had a nice little following all day even though it’s been freezing cold and pumping sideways”, he said.
“The fans have still come out and watched all the way around, which has been lovely.
“I have a lot of the family up here again this week, which is nice.
“But I’m just excited to come back now and get back into tournament golf and we’ve got a busy season, only one week off in the next eight weeks so nice to kick start it here.”
Willett currently heads the Race to Dubai money list and after finishing runner-up last year to Rory McIlory will be looking to go one better this year.
And Pieters, who created European Ryder Cup history in scoring the most points by a rookie, was also very appreciative of the crowd support at Carnoustie.
“It’s great to be back in Europe as everybody is on my side here and that’s nice,” he said.
However Matthew Fitzpatrick’s indifferent form of late continued with next week’s British Masters defending champion ending near the tail of the field in posting a five over par 77 also at Carnoustie.
Sweden’s Alex Noren equalled the course record at Carnoustie with an eight under par 64 to head the event by a stroke.
