Tournament Round-Up
Who's setting the early pace in this week's three main tournaments? Golf Monthly's round-up takes you from the banks of Loch Lomond in Scotland to the Mid-West of the United States.
Tournament Round-Up
Barclays Scottish Open, Loch Lomond
In-form Swede Johan Edfors sits atop of the leaderboard in the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond after the first round, accompanied by Scotland?s David Dysdale. Edfors is looking for his third title of the season, while Drysdale received an invitation to this year?s event after narrowly losing his European Tour card last season. Both carded impressive rounds of 65 to finish the day on -6, one shot ahead of Ulsterman Darren Clarke (pictured) and England?s Mike Tunnicliff.
Several big names lie well-positioned in the chasing pack, including Jose-Maria Olazabal (-4), Luke Donald (-3), last year?s winner Tim Clark (-2), David Howell (-2) and former winners Ernie Els and Retief Goosen (both -1). The surprise of the day, however, was Hale Irwin?s stunning finish to his opening round. The 61 year-old three-time US Open champion closed out with five successive birdies to finish on -3. Edfors, his playing partner, was amazed.
?He can win this,? Edfors claimed.
?I don?t think I?ve ever seen a better display with long irons and fairway woods. It was impressive ? amazing really.?
John Deere Classic, TPC Deere Run, Illinois
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
American Michelle Wie?s bid for a wildcard place at next week?s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool looks doomed after she struggled to an opening round of 77 at the John Deere Classic in Illinois yesterday. Wie lies at +6, some thirteen shots off co-leaders Daniel Chopra, Zach Johnson. John Senden and JP Hayes after their impressive rounds of 64.
Wie needs to finish in the top ten to stand any chance of making it to Hoylake, but once again it looks like she will struggle to make the cut in her quest to be the first woman to do so on the men?s US PGA Tour in 61 years. She never settled after a double bogey at her 2nd hole (the 11th), subsequently adding six bogeys and two birdies to her card.
Jamie Farr Owens Classic, Highland Meadows GC, Ohio
Liselotte Neumann takes a one shot lead into the second round of the Jamie Farr Owens Classic in Ohio, which begins today. She carded an impressive eight birdies on her way to a six-under-par total of 65. Paula Creamer and Britain?s Laura Davies are amongst those two shots behind, while Neumann?s compatriot and world number one Annika Sorenstam is four behind after an opening 69.