De Jager setting the pace in Portugal Masters

South Africa’s Louis De Jager has a two-shot lead after the first round of the Portugal Masters, having opened with an eight-under-par 63 in Vilamoura.

De Jager registered eight birdies in his bogey-free round, including five in his first seven holes.

The 32-year-old started the week 123rd in the Race to Dubai rankings as he looks to end Sunday in the top 117 and maintain his playing privileges for 2020.

De Jager’s compatriot Justin Walters, Englishman Oliver Fisher and Australia’s Jake McLeod are all on six under.

Walters and Fisher – who produced the first 59 in European Tour history in his second round in this event last year – are 121st and 112th respectively in the Race to Dubai, while McLeod is 159th.

After shooting a 65 featuring seven birdies and a bogey, Fisher was quoted on europeantour.com as saying: “I actually played really well today but it’s funny to think I had to be six shots better to do that 59 again.

“It was a great day. This course has given low scores over the years – anything is possible out there. It’s nice to go out there with a bit of expectation after that good round last year.”

A group of seven players are a shot farther back, including a pair of Fisher’s compatriots – Matthew Southgate and David Horsey.

The others on five under are Italy’s Renato Paratore, South Korea’s Jeunghun Wang, South African duo Darren Fichardt and Brandon Stone and the USA’s Sihwan Kim.

Leading Scot is Stephen Gallacher who is three under. Liam Johnston and Grant Forrest are two farther back, while David Law and Marc Warren are level par and Paul Lawrie and David Drysdale one over.