Paul Gallagher reports from Newcastle
Aside from little-known Noboru Sugai from Japan leading after the first day of the Mastercard Senior British Open at Royal County Down, the leaderboard had a distinctly Scottish feel to it with three of the top four players arriving at Newcastle from the home of golf.
Sugai has won three times on the Japanese Seniors Tour and today the 52-year-old demonstrated his desire to win further afield with a fine opening four-under 67 to hold a one shot overnight lead from Scotland’s Russell Weir in second.
"I hit a lot of good shots today. The key to my round was good putting and good approach shots," explained Sugai who teamed up with local caddy Fergus MacFerran for a second year. "I have a good combination with my caddy, he reads all the lines on my putts."
Weir (51) joined the Senior circuit last year after a prolific record winning over 100 events on the Tartan Tour. The Cowal Golf Club professional wasted little time entering the winner’s circle in the over 50’s club by winning the TEMES Senior Open in Greece last September. Weir is one shot ahead of fellow Scots John Chillas and Peter Kerr in third, both carded opening 69’s.
Pre-tournament favourite Tom Watson is still very much in the mix on one-under despite not hitting the ball ‘particularly well’ in the calmer morning conditions. The five-times Open Champion made the perfect start by launching his drive off the new elevated tee box at the first, knocking a four-iron into six feet, which he converted, to reduce the 522-yard par five to an eagle three.
The pre-tournament favourite steered a steady course over the more difficult front nine to reach the turn in one-under 34 with the prospect of forging ahead on the easier inward half. However, the story didn’t unfold that way as Watson left the par five 12th smarting from a bogey and a wasted opportunity.
"A wayward three-wood at 12 was the beginning of a very awkward hole for me where I ended up making bogey on a very easy par five," explained the 52-year-old who felt it undid his good work at the first. "That was the equaliser today from number one."
On reflection Watson felt he should have taken advantage of the better morning conditions. "The golf course was there for the taking, The wind didn’t blow this morning. In fact it was very benign for Royal County Down," said the man who believes he is still learning about the intricacies of this traditional links venue.
Watson may not feel as aggrieved as the 2000 champion, Christy O’Connor Jnr, who worked hard during his round to get back on level terms, only to give it all back again with a double-bogey seven at the last.
"What a terrible way to finish, I played absolutely superbly but my putting was filthy," said O’Connor Jnr who eventually signed for a two-over 73 to be the leading Irishman.
"At the 18th I hit a nine-iron 119yards through the green, took a drop in the zone, putted to seven feet and proceeded to three putt," explained the Galwayman who was left to rue two four putts and a trio of three putts during his round.
There is no doubt the afternoon starters endured the worst part of the day as the prevailing wind, which blows everything out to Dundrum Bay, picked up and the greens hardened. It meant only six of the 132-strong field managed to break par with all sub par rounds recorded before lunch.
The defending champion, Ian Stanley from Australia, could only muster an opening 75 while playing alongside John Bland. The South African opened with a 71 in hope of going one better than his three runner-up finishes in this event.