GOLF: Aside from little-known Noboru Sugai from Japan, who leads after the first day of the 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 yesterday the 52-year-old demonstrated his desire to win further afield with a fine, four-under-par 67 to hold a one-shot 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 is one shot ahead of fellow Scots John Chillas and Peter Kerr, who carded 69s.
Pre-tournament favourite Tom Watson (52) is still in the mix on one-under, despite not hitting the ball "particularly well" in the calmer morning conditions. The five-time British 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.
He steered a steady course over the more difficult front nine to reach the turn in one-under 34. However, Watson left the par five 12th smarting from a bogey and a wasted opportunity.
Watson may not feel as aggrieved as the 2000 champion, Christy O'Connor Jnr, who worked hard to get back on level terms, only to give it all away 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 119 yards 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.
Leading first round scores: (Brit unless stated) 67 N Sugai (Jpn) 68 R Weir 69 J Chillas, P Kerr 70 T Watson, T Allen 71 K Takahashi (Jpn) J Irwin (Can) J McTear, M Foster, R Carrasco (USA) B Vivian (Nzl), J Bland (Rsa), D Halldorson (Can) 72 M. Ferguson (Aus), B Jones (Aus), S Ebihara (Jpn), J Morgan, M Bembridge G Parslow (Aus), J Grace (USA), J Fourie (Rsa), B Verwey (Rsa), M Gregson, J Traub (USA) 73 C O'Connor Jnr, J Bruner (USA), B Feil (USA), B Charles (Nzl), D Durnian
