The Legends’ Tour stays in Scotland this week with Colin Montgomerie playing host at the PGA Seniors’ Championship on Trump International Golf Links. A feast of Irish players teed it up on day one, but none could scare the top of the leaderboard as four share the lead.
David Higgins leads the Irish contingent as his one-over opening round sees him five off the lead. Gary Murphy comes in next having traded a shot back and forth on the front-nine, before a double bogey-seven on the 18th saw him finish on two-over.
Peter Lawrie follows in next for the Irish pack, one shot back on three-over, a pair of doubles on the par-4s 8th and 17th for the Luttrellstown Castle Golf Club man see him looking to attack on day two.
Brendan McGovern follows next on +4 after a double on the par-4 11th was compounded by bogeys on the eighth, with two more on the back nine. Paul McGinley had a bit of a rollercoaster round in Aberdeenshire, with doubles on the second, the fifteenth and the par-5 18th adding to his frustrating +7 first round.
A four-way tie at the top will see the action kick off on day-two with Gary Orr, Simon Khan, Scott Henderson and Jarmo Sandelin on four-under-par, with twenty players within three strokes on day two, there is plenty of action to come as the groups switch start times.
“Delighted with that, obviously. I got off to quite a fast start, and it seemed easy for a little while, you know,” said joint leader Henderson. “I was having decent shots and the putts I left myself weren’t that difficult.”
“I caught a really bad lie just off the edge of the fairway and had to take unplayable. Then I made bogey before a double-bogey at the next, just like that. The course can do it to you here, but if you come out the right side of par every time then you’re never disappointed.”
Gary Murphy is first out on Friday morning at 8.58 with Chris Williams and Cameron King for company. Peter Lawrie and David Higgins begin their day off the 10th tee at 9.20 with Lee Williams while, in the afternoon groupings, Brendan McGovern will kick off his second day with the Scottish duo of Will Murray and Zac Don at 12.30.
“It was lovely out there this morning when I started on the 10th, not a breath of wind early on,” said Scot Gar Orr. “Then it got up a little bit, but only like half a club. Really happy with that score and a good back nine for me. A nice four-under-par round, so I’m happy with that. On my second nine it was all about good putting really. I played quite well today, and I played well last week in Carnoustie.”
Craig Fox and Paul McKenna follow next out playing with Thomas Levet and Jose Maria Olazabal respectively, while Frank Gleeson heads out at 13.36 with Peter Baker and Scott Hend.