Golf - SAS Masters update:The longest course in European Tour history didn't stop England's Lee Slattery from starting the SAS Masters in Sweden today with a six under par 67. At 7,665 yards Barseback, in Malmo, is 22 yards longer than last year's US Open venue Torrey Pines, but first man out Slattery birdied the first four holes and had two chip-ins.
“The length of the course is ridiculous given the size of the greens and I can’t see anybody beating my score,” the 30-year-old said as the wind picked up strength.
However, Australian Brett Rumford then moved alongside him with an eagle at the long 16th, before dropping back with a 70. Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez is Slattery's nearest challenger after signing for a 68.
Sweden's Klas Eriksson, Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal and Pablo Martin and Argentina's Tano Goya form the chasing pack in third on four-under.
Gary Murphy finished the day as leading Irishman on two-under after the Kilkenny man shot a round of 71 that included four birdies and two dropped shots.
Michael Hoey and Gareth Maybin were next one-under, while Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane were a shot further back on level par.
Slattery is only 136th on this year’s money list and a lowly 504th in the world and after a disappointing run of form. Last week he left his clubs at home and went to the Lake District with his girlfriend instead.
“I woke up this morning and just thought ‘enjoy it and trust your swing’. After the start I made it felt like the pressure was off.”
Slattery turned in six-under 30 before he had to stop for an hour because of the threat of a thunderstorm.
He explained: “I wanted to carry on, but I had no choice.”
On the resumption he hit a tree at the 12th and ran up a bogey six, but then got up and down from a bunker at the long 16th to return to six-under.
Former Ryder Cup star Jesper Parnevik, back in Europe for one week after making only five cuts in 15 starts on the US Tour while battling back trouble, opened with a 74.
Home favourite Henrik Stenson, world number seven and winner of the Players Championship in May, was among the late starters whose tee-off times had to be pushed back because of the hold-up.
Stenson is donating his prize money this week to help launch his own worldwide Foundation to help youngsters in sport and was again wearing a green ribbon in his cap.
“It’s for a good friend of mine who is from Iran and lives in Dubai,” he explained. “The green band is a symbol for democracy in Iran. I felt it was an important gesture.”
