Round One Report
Nick Dougherty, Thomas Bjorn, David Frost and Alan McLean led the way on five under par after the first round of The Celtic Manor Wales Open.
Dougherty started as one of the pre-tournament favourites after shooting four rounds in the 60s last year to finish joint fourth and admitted he loved coming back to The Celtic Manor Resort.
“I just like it here,” said the two-time European Tour winner from Liverpool. “I used to have some great times here with my late mum who was Welsh. She would always come to this event because it’s a beautiful hotel.
“I love coming to The Celtic Manor, there’s a great feel to it. I do love the golf course, too, I think it’s fabulous.
“I think as golfers we are a bit like that. Sometimes when we feel comfortable is when we perform our best.
“So I feel at home here in Wales and I’ve also got some of my mum’s side of the family coming down this weekend. So it should be nice.”
Denmark’s Bjorn was equally at home on a demanding golf course made firmer by more glorious sunshine in South Wales.
“You’ve got to stand up and concentrate on every shot,” said Bjorn. “There’s nothing that’s given to you.
“Even the shorter holes, you’ve got to be very focused on what you’re doing because there’s a lot of trouble out there.
“It will certainly be very interesting for The 2010 Ryder Cup,” added the two-time Ryder Cup winner. “There’s a lot of interesting holes out there with those kinds of pressure, so it will test a lot of guys and that’s what it’s all about.
“When you come on that back nine stretch, say 11 through 15, there’s a lot of things that can happen on those holes so it’s going to be a wonderful Ryder Cup venue.
“You can let 100,000 people all through the gate and they can all fit in here. It is going to make for a great atmosphere.”
Frost, who is keeping in shape for a crack at the senior circuits when he turns 50 in September, proved he can still give the young guns a run for their money as he set the early clubhouse target.
The South African veteran lit up a flawless round with four birdies in five holes around the turn and closed with another at the last.
Scotland’s Alan McLean joined the late logjam at the top of the leaderboard after firing six birdies in his own round of 66.
Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal was one of three players just one shot behind on four under after firing one of three holes in one on the day, equaling the European Tour record for aces in the same round.
Mads Vibe-Habstrup from Denmark holed out on the same 213-yard seventh hole as Larrazabal while India’s Jeev Milka Singh covered the 189 yards largely over water to ace the 13th.
Wrexham’s Tim Dykes led the Welsh challenge after accepting a sponsor’s invite to shoot 68 and share eighth place.
Friday’s second round begins at 7.25am with tickets available for cash purchase at the gate.
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