Lee Westwood carded a flawless opening 62 to lead the 2020 Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open – 22 years after he won the title at Loch Lomond. Shubhankar Sharma carded 1-under-70 and lying at T39 at the end of the opening round. Other fellow Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar had a rough start with six-over-77.
“I played a pretty good and a straight forward round today, though it was windy and raining in the morning when we started. I am pleased with the good start and hoping for the lower tomorrow”, Shubhankar said to Golfing Indian.
Sharma shot two birdies one at the 5th hole and another at the 10th hole with a lone bogey to card one-under score.
Westwood carded two eagles in the space of five holes and added five birdies to finish nine under par as the Rolex Series returned at The Renaissance Club, a shot ahead of Sweden’s Alexander Björk and Joost Luiten of the Netherlands.
Scotland’s Scott Jamieson headed the 15-strong home challenge on seven under, with compatriot Craig Lee another stroke back alongside England’s Robert Rock and Finland’s Kalle Samooja.
The early starters were faced with cold, damp and windy conditions, but Westwood was among the afternoon wave who acknowledged they had benefited from considerably calmer and warmer weather.
“I opened the curtains this morning and thought, ooh, that looks rough,” admitted the 47-year-old after his best opening round since 2007.
Westwood practised at The Renaissance Club in the week before finishing 13th in the U.S. Open at Winged Foot and had plenty of other experience of the venue to draw upon from the time he lived in Edinburgh.
“I’ve played here loads of times,” added Westwood, who won his 25th European Tour title in Abu Dhabi in January, the last Rolex Series event before this week due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Björk, whose round included five consecutive birdies from the 11th, said: “It was kind of a bit of a weird round.
Jamieson carded nine birdies and two bogeys in his 64 and said: “Seven under on any day is a good score but on a day like this, in what feels like a big event, is a great way to start the week.
Defending champion Bernd Wiesberger carded an opening one-under-par 70, with playing partner Tommy Fleetwood a shot better off after recovering from two over par after nine holes with four birdies on the back nine.
European Tour Release, 02 Oct, 2020
