Near perfect Storm ties with Molinari at Scots Open
Graeme Storm shares the Clubhouse lead with Edoardo Molinari after the first round of the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond - although world No. 2 Phil Mickelson is still only five holes into his round.
Beginning on the back nine, England's Storm hit an early bum-note with a bogey on the 12th, but he soon made amends with another six birdies over the course of the day. Italy's Molinari matched the 32-year-old with a similar bogey on the same hole, but then last year's World Cup winner fought back with three birdies and an eagle in the space of five holes - only to find another bogey on the 18th.
The pair both topped the leaderboard on five-under-par 66, with Scotland's Stephen Gallacher finishing a stroke further back on four-under. But Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee is on the same score as Gallacher, having so far only completed the front nine; the Thai has shot four birdies on a so far flawless round.
Of the pursuing pack, David Horsey, who won the BMW International Open in Munich last month, is currently tied for fifth place on three-under, while co-leader Edouardo's brother, Francesco, is currently on the same score after nine holes.
Ernie Els is a stroke further back on two-under after eight holes, while Graeme McDowell, making his first appearance since his US Open victory at Pebble Beach last month, finished on level par, after an uneven round that featured four birdies - and the same number of bogeys, three of them coming in the space of five holes. Two of the birdies came on the final two holes, however, rather saving McDowell's bacon.
"It was a bit of a mixed bag," the Ulsterman said. "A few good swings in there, a few champagne ones and a few careless ones, but generally I'm pretty happy and a birdie-birdie finish is always nice.
"I didn't feel the most prepared ever, but I've had to let myself off the hook and go with the flow. I have to keep my expectation levels low because there's not been a lot of practice going on, but it should improve as the week goes on."
Japan's Ryo Ishikawa is on level par after seven holes, while Mickelson, partnering the record-breaking teenager, is on the same score. If the Californian can win or finish second at this tournament, he will replace Tiger Woods as the No. 1 golfer in the world.
Meanwhile, former US Open winner Michael Campbell suffered another nightmarish round. The New Zealander is desperately looking to recapture some form, having plummeted to 795th in the world rankings, but a round of nine-over-par 80 today - which included a quintuple-bogey on the five-par 6th - suggests his luck is at least as bad as his play right now.
Campbell was forced to add a two-penalty stroke to his score, having lost one ball and then accidentally played a differently marked and thus an ineligible one for his second tee shot - an innocent error that could give the Kiwi no advantage, but one which the rules of golf strictly forbid. Campbell currently lies one place off the foot of the leaderboard.
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