The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Warren to the fore in Spain, but Rahm just one behind.
Golf: Scot shares lead in Open de España, while home favourite is just one shot behind
Marc Warren produced a stunning finish to his first round to set the target on day one of the Open de España.
The Scot birdied five of his last seven holes to sign for a 66 and move to six under and a share of the lead with Ireland’s Paul Dunne.
They are one shot clear of an 11-strong group including world number four Jon Rahm and Spanish amateur Victor Pastor.
Pastor is 113th in the world amateur golf rankings and is aiming to become the first amateur winner on the European Tour since Shane Lowry at the 2009 Irish Open.
Warren’s best effort of last year came in neighbouring Portugal, and he is showing that sort of form again.
He sandwiched a bogey on the fourth with birdies on the second and fifth to turn in 35 but really came to life on the back nine.
The three-time European Tour winner birdied the 12th and 13th, followed that with two pars, but then closed with three further gains to jump out into the lead. Scott Jamieson was three under. Drumoig’s Connor Syme was on two under along with Stephen Gallacher.
Blairgowrie’s Bradley Neil was one under.
David Drysdale and Richie Ramsay were one over, while Paul Lawrie had a disappointing 76 to be four over.
Warren’s best result in seven starts this season is a tie for 53rd.
“I’m delighted with that start,” Warren said.
“I finished with three birdies in a row so it kind of makes it look a little bit better obviously.
“Overall, it was really solid tee to green.
“I putted really well today, my pace was really good.
“The putts that missed I didn’t leave myself much to do and the good putts always looked like they had a chance of going in.” “It feels great,” Rahm told Sky Sports. “To be honest I would have taken anything under par given the fact that I played better than I expected, especially off the tee. My long game was amazing.
“The driver alone set up two birdies today on 13 when I hit it over the green and seven where I hit it to the front edge of the green. Things like that are obviously a bonus. Hopefully I can keep hitting it tee-to- green the same way and make a few more putts the rest of the week.”
Asked how he was feeling following the trip across the Atlantic from the Masters, Rahm added: “The morning is not as bad as the afternoon.
“When jet-lag kicks in after the round and adrenaline goes the afternoon is a little harder.
“I’m a lot better than I expected and hopefully it keeps going because sometimes jet-lag tricks you. It gives you a good day and the next day is horrible.”
Dunne also enjoyed a fast finish with three birdies and an eagle on the 18th in a back nine of 31.
“I find the greens quite tricky to read, especially on the front nine, so it was nice to get a couple of putts to go in on the back nine and climb up the leaderboard,” Dunne, who won the British Masters last year, told Sky Sports.
England’s Aaron Rai shared the lead after covering the back nine in 30 with two birdies and two eagles, but eventually signed for a 67 after two bogeys and a birdie in his last five holes.
Overall, it was really solid tee to green. MARC WARREN