Golf Update: First day roundup of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
The first round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship has wrapped up on Thursday with four players rising to early lead; Martin Laird, Ricardo Gonzalez, Maarten Lafeber and Thomas Bjorn. The group recorded a score of 66.
The Ryder Cup vice-captain Thomas Bjorn posted a spectacular score to share the lead with three other non Ryder Cup members. He was the only person in the Ryder Cup squad that gave a modest performance. Interestingly, he was not
a player at Celtic Manor that is why his game showed persistence and strength. Rest of the team was seen trailing at the lowest corner of the leaderboard and it was quite obvious that the boys needed a good night sleep.
Thomas Bjorn told the press that he had realised it would be tough for the rest of the Ryder Cup squad to play well after the celebrations and four hectic days of continuous challenge. As for him, he went early to bed on Monday
night as he knew that Alfred Dunhill Links Championship was as big a challenge in its own way.
He further added, "I have done it before. I was vice-captain to Bernhard Langer in 2004 so I knew how much the Ryder cup would take out of me.”
Six players recorded a score of four-under and Martin Kaymer was one of them. This USPGA champion gave a terrible performance at the Ryder Cup and even lost the singles against Dustin Johnson but in Thursday’s round; he seemed
to pick himself up really well. He was the only player closest to Bjorn on the 7,150 yards, par-72 field.
The German told the press, "I was still very tired, but now after the Ryder Cup it's important for me to win this year's Race to Dubai. That is my priority since I have obviously a very good chance of winning it." Martin Kaymer
is only few points away from the Race to Dubai cup and after giving a laid back performance at the Twenty ten course, he wants to re buckle himself.
Below Martin Kaymer was the Englishman, Ross Fisher: he shot a 3 –under- 69 to take the 25th spot of the leaderboard. As for the rest of the players, Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood made a 70 each to take the 47th spot.
McDowell who was the show stealer of the singles in the Ryder Cup gave a terrible performance, although he managed to break the par unlike his captain.
Colin Montgomerie started out fine and it was the first time in twenty- eight months that Monty completed the first half of the round with one- under- par. However, after the back nine, the Ryder Cup striker was hovering at a 72
which was a positive sign for him as a golfer.
Montgomerie will be competing for the Portugal Masters next month and if he wants to achieve the title then he will have to work on it.
The victorious striker has slipped to 425th place in the world ranking and with plans like competing in the Ryder Cup 2012; he will have to put in extra effort.
Moreover, rest of the squad which included Francesco Molinari, Edoardo Molinari and Peter Hanson were hovering in the bottom most corner of the leaderboard. Out of the trio, only Francesco managed to equal the par.
These were the highlights of the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship which was taking place at the Kingsbarns, Scotland. Martin Laird and Thomas Bjorn along with two other players have surged to an early lead after
scoring a 66.
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