Golf - Austrian Open:Gary Murphy was best of the Irish on the opening day of the €1million Austrian Open at Fontana Golf Club in Vienna where England's Benn Barham equalled the lowest round of his career - an eight-under par 63 - to hold a one shot overnight lead.
The 33-year-old carded seven birdies and an eagle two on the 423 yard 13th, where his 150 yard approach pitched just past the flag and spun back in. His only blemish of the day came with a bogey at the 10th but still leads from Scotland's Scott Drummond and Australian Brett Rumford, who both shot 64.
"I couldn’t quite see it drop, but the people around the green were shouting and waving so I knew it had gone in," said Barham in reference to the eagle. "This time of year you have no choice – either knuckle down and play well to keep your card or go somewhere else, which I am not thinking about.
"I've been playing well the last four or five weeks, so this is not a freak round."
The Englishman needs to climb from 175th in The Race to Dubai rankings to guarantee his card for next year, while Drummond (158th) is also fighting for his future as his five-year exemption for winning tour's flagship PGA Championship at Wentworth expires in November.
The 35-year-old earned four times more for that victory than he has so far this year (€122,402).
"I'm delighted," said Drummond. "It’s my lowest round of the season and for the last few seasons, in fact. It was nice to get a top 20 finish last week but I needed to bring that form into this week and keep the momentum going, which I've done.
"I don’t feel I have hit the ball better at any point in my career and I feel comfortable where I am at."
Rumford began the Omega European Masters in Switzerland two weeks ago with a nine-under-par 62, the lowest round of his Tour career by two, but finished only 32nd.
Today another low score emerged in his bid for a fourth European Tour win as he opened with a birdie then picked up three in a row from the fifth to turn in 31. Further birdies came at the 11th, 12th and 16th.
Murphy had a mixed bag on the front nine, trading two birdies with as many bogeys, but three birdies on the inward half, including one at the 18th, ensured the Kilkenny golfer signed for an opening three-under 68 to be just outside the top 20.
Damien McGrane could only muster a level par 71, while his playing partner Michael Hoey, who won his first professional event at this venue in 2005, shot 72.
Ryder Cup Dane Soren Hansen, the only player in the world’s top 50 taking part, was among the late starters and covered the course in two equal nines of two-under for an opening 67, while double Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, who was given a late sponsor’s invite, shot 70.
