The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Kaymer provides thrills in the chill
Former world No 1 Martin Kaymer was one shot off the lead after shooting a first-round 68 at the Austrian Open.
The German, currently ranked 99, carded six birdies in a four-under-par score at the Diamond Country Club to join a three-way tie for second place behind Spain’s Alejandro Canizares.
American John Catlin and Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg also signed for rounds of 68.
Canizares benefited from an eagle and four birdies in his 67, with his only blemish around the course at Atzenbrugg, near Vienna, being a bogey at the par-four 12th.
Kaymer, who started on the back nine in chilly conditions early in the day, picked up birdies in three of his first five holes but dropped a shot on the 17 th. It was a similar story after the turn, with birdies at the first, second and fourth but a bogey at the sixth.
The 36-year-old, who is hoping to force his way into Ryder Cup contention, told the European Tour’s website: “It was OK. I think the biggest battle was the cold.
“In general the golf course played well and the conditions are pretty nice, the greens are good. I didn’t make many mistakes. Four under was a decent start.”
There were six players tied for fifth place on three under, including English pair Richard Mansell and Daniel Gavins.
The Scottish trio of Ewen
Ferguson, David Drysdale and Grant Forrest were among a group of eight players three shots off the lead.
Leading scores (Gbr & Irl unless stated, Par 72)
67 Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 68 Martin Kaymer (Ger), John Catlin (USA), Rikard Karlberg (Swe), Jacques Kruyswijk (Rsa)
69 Richard Mansell, Jeff Winther (Den), Pedro Oriol (Spa), Daniel
Gavins
70 David Ravetto (Fra), Thomas Detry (Bel), David Drysdale, Grant Forrest, Lorenzo Gagli (Ita), Julien Guerrier (Fra), Ewen Ferguson, Bernd Ritthammer (Ger), Nicolai Hoejgaard (Den), Hurly Long (Ger) 71 Kurt Kitayama (USA), Joost Luiten (Ned), Rasmus Hoejgaard (Den), Matthias Schwab (Aut), Justin Walters (Rsa), Adrian Meronk (Pol), Benjamin Poke (Den), Adrien Saddier (Fra), Svn-hwan Kim (Kor), Gonzalo Fernandez-castano (Spa), Emilio Cuartero (Spa) 72 Ashun Wu (Chn), Callum Shinkwin, Zander Lombard (Rsa), Niklas Regner (Aut), Soeren Kjeldsen (Den), Maximilian Kieffer (Ger), Garrick Higgo (Rsa), Darius van Driel (Ned), Maverick Antcliff (Aus), Shiv Chawrasia (Ind), Niklas Lemke (Swe), Jean-baptiste Gonnet (Fra), Wil Besseling (Ned), Max Schmitt (Ger), Chase Hanna (USA) Other scores included:
75 David Law
76 Craig Howie
77 Euan Walker
79 Scott Jamieson, Liam Johnston