BACK IN CONTROL
Super Scott grabs share of lead
SCOTT JAMIESON recovered from a nightmare start to ride a rollercoaster to the top of the Wentworth leaderboard.
And now the Glaswegian is 36 holes away from a life-changing victory.
The world No.327 shot a bogey-free 67 in the BMW PGA first round but dropped three shots in yesterday’s opening three, including a double bogey at the third when his ball plugged in a bunker.
But Jamieson then went on a hot streak of seven birdies in nine holes, including four straight around the turn.
The highlight was a five iron to three feet on the parthree 10th – a hole he aced last year.
He finished with a two-under 70 to sit seven under, level with Ryder Cup stars Thomas Pieters and Francesco Molinari.
Jamieson said: “I would have taken that after the way I started. It’s a tough stretch of the golf course, the first three holes, especially the way the wind was blowing today. I just said to myself, ‘Don’t panic. There are plenty of birdie chances to come. Just try to take a wee minute to yourself and start again’.
“The sooner you can get things back under control the better. It’s easy to spiral the other way especially on a tough course like this.
“You start off well with a 67 and everyone is sending you texts saying you’re going to win. But you’re only a quarter of the way through.
“After a start like I had today you start thinking, ‘If I drop a couple more I might be on the cut line’. It keeps the stride in the steps. Hopefully it’s now more of the same.
“Making birdies is something I’ve always thrived on. I love doing that, making birdies in a row or a good par save. That’s where you get the buzz.”
Jamieson’s only European Tour victory was the Nelson Mandela Championship in 2012 – and he nearly lost his card in the last two seasons.
He added: “Winning here would be huge. It would open doors that have been closed for a few years.
“I’m not in the Majors so winning here would be up there with winning the Scottish Open. This is as good as it gets for me.
“You want to challenge yourself against the world’s best. Hopefully I can take a few of them down.”
Aberdonian Richie Ramsay closed with two birdies for a one-under 74. But it wasn’t until the 15th he realised his name was spelled “Ramsey” on his bag.
He said: “I’ll need to get that changed. And there’s a lot of Rangers colours on that bag, orange and blue! Need some red there!”
Russell Knox shot a 74 to sit three over – right on the cut line.