Golf

British Seniors Open: Langer sets pace as McGinley struggles

Legendary German shoots opening 69 while Dubliner posts 75 in the tough conditions

Paul McGinley tees off on the 5th hole during the first round of the the British Seniors Open at Royal Porthcawl in Bridgend, Wales. Photograph: Richard Martin-Roberts/Getty Images

Thu Jul 27 2017 - 21:46

Paul McGinley was a disappointed man after a tough opening round on his British Senior Open Championship debut at Royal Porthcawl yesterday.

The Dubliner had to contend with driving wind and rain which battered the South Wales coast – particularly throughout the morning – eventually signing for a four-over-par 75 following a nightmare end to his round.

Meanwhile Bernhard Langer – who won at a canter at the same venue back in 2014 – leads the way again thanks to his two-under 69.

The German was the only player to break 70 and one of only three players under-par on a day where conditions made it extremely tough going for the 144-strong field.

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Englishman Carl Mason and Mauricio Molina from Argentina ended one stroke behind Langer on one-under (70).

Former US Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson – who shot a 72 – described the conditions as some of the toughest he’s ever faced on a links course, while defending champion Paul Broadhurst posted a 75.

Ryder Cup hero McGinley reached the turn in 37 as, after starting with seven consecutive pars, he suffered two bogeys on eight and nine.

He pulled himself back on par with birdies on the 10th and 13th, but further bogeys on 14 and 16, followed by a double bogey six on the 17th, cost him dearly.

Poor finish

“Really disappointed,” said McGinley. “I played much better than my score but it was a really poor finish. The conditions played a big part with a tough breeze, crosswinds the whole way around. It’s a really tough golf course.

“There’s no easy hole out there; there’s no hole where you think, okay, I can have a rest here now and I should make a birdie here. It’s really difficult and relentless the whole way through.

“There’s a lot of danger out there. Those fairway bunkers, a lot of out-of-bounds in play. It was a real test. Obviously concentration is a big part of it and my concentration waned a bit at the end.

“I hit a couple of slack shots and paid big prices for them, and that’s what happens. It wears you down.”

McGinley’s score was matched by 16-time European Tour winner Mark McNulty, who also posted 75 thanks to a birdie on the last.

Of the other Irishmen competing, Philip Walton and Des Smyth both shot 76 and have work to do today, as does Brendan McGovern (77) along with Eamonn Darcy and Ronan Rafferty (both on 78).

And, with the indifferent conditions set to continue on Friday, McGinley said predicting a winning score is a thankless task.

“You can’t tell,” he said. “With these weather conditions, you have no idea. Level par will certainly win if it’s four days like this.”

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