Career-best 64 rockets Scots ace David to top of the class

DAVID LAW emerged from lockdown to celebrate his 50th main Tour event with a career-low 64 to lead the BetFred British Masters. Austrian Open champ Marc Warren slumped to a share of last place on day one at Close House near Newcastle. But fellow Scot Law didn’t drop a shot in his seven-under scoring spree to end one shot clear of English duo Oliver Fisher and Garrick Porteous plus Italian Renato Paratore. Law parred his opening five holes, was seven under for the next eight then parred his last five holes. And he cited his work during the lockdown period with coach Alan McCloskey as having been key. Law said: “I’ve been working with Alan on a couple of things. We needed to change some things and never really had the time to do it. “My set-up was one of the things we did early on in the lockdown. I had a set-up at home to do stuff there before the courses opened again. “The difference has been gaining like 10 yards through the air, in ball flight. “I was playing steady but then you’re not sure what to expect coming in after the long break, so I’m delighted with that. “It’s still a little strange playing without spectators and given the restrictions. “But the Tour have done a fantastic job with the hotel that’s hosting us looking after

BY BERNIE McGUIRE us really well. It’s a new time for us, we’re all learning and we’ll all have to get used to it. The whole week so far has been very positive.”

Fellow Scot Calum Hill, who signed for a four-under-par 67 to share eighth place, has not had a Tour scorecard in his back pocket since missing the cut last March at the Qatar Masters.

Hill brilliantly capped his round with five birdies in succession from the sixth hole and then birdied the 12th and 13th.

He said: “At the start of season I wasn’t in great shape so the break was timely for me to put a lot of work in.

“But overall, I played solid and putted decent, so it’s good.”

Richie Ramsay birdied his closing two holes in a two-under 69 and he said: “I was very happy with that on a tricky golf course.

But Warren’s return to competition on British soil, and also with his fulltime caddie by his side, produced a shock seven-over par 78 for him, matched by David Drysdale.

The Scots duo share last place in the now 131-player field following the withdrawal of English star Andrew ‘Beef ’ Johnston.

Between them, Warren and Drysdale managed three birdies but also 17 bogeys.