England’s Steven Webster holds a one-shot lead after the first round of play at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championships, played over three courses at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingbarns on Thursday.
The 32-year-old shot an impressive seven-under-par 65 at Carnoustie to take sole possession of the lead heading into the second day’s play on Friday.
One shot further back are Scotsman Paul Lawrie, Denmark’s Soren Hansen, Hennie Otto of South Africa and Australia’s Scott Strange.
Webster was making his return to competitive action following more than a month off with a niggling back injury but he showed no signs of rust as he hit birdies at the first three holes before adding two more at six and seven.
He dropped a shot at 11 but responded to that with four birdies in his closing seven holes.
He later revealed his injury had bothered him, but not enough to hold him back.
”I was struggling a bit with the back. It was really sore down the right side and it’s still a bit sore now,” he said.
”But I’m delighted with this start. I don’t think I’ve ever broken 70 in this tournament, so it’s a bit of a breakthrough for me. Let’s hope it keeps going.”
The 2001 champion, Lawrie, sparked some life into his otherwise disappointing season with a six-under 66 at St Andrews.
”This is probably the best start to a tournament in a long time,” said the Scot. ”People will be fed up hearing it and I have been saying if for a while now, but I feel I have been playing well for a long period.
”It’s just I’ve not been able to get the putting to combine with the good play. It came together today [Thursday].”
Hansen also fired a six-under at St Andrews that included four successive birdies from 10 to 13.
Irish defending champion Padraig Harrington shot an unspectacular two-under 70 at St Andrews while 2005 winner Colin Montgomerie could do no better than a two-over 74 at Carnoustie. — AFP
