DONALDSON EYES FAIRYTALE PORTRUSH RETURN

IT WAS some story when Jamie Donaldson finally achieved his first professional victory at the 255th attempt in the Irish Open at Portrush in 2012. It will be another pretty good one if the popular Welshman earns his way back to Portrush for the Open next week. Now 43, the Ryder Cup hero from Gleneagles in 2014 is feeling his way back following seven months off after a wrist operation. Inside the world’s top 25 five years ago, he has fallen outside the top 1,100, and his only chance now of making it to Northern Ireland is by claiming one of three spots on offer to the leading players not already exempt at the ASI Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club. On a perfect day for scoring, Donaldson (right) took full advantage with a fine 64 yesterday to lie just one shot off the first-round lead held by American Matt Kuchar and three continentals — Romain Wattel from France and Italians Nino Bertasio and Edoardo Molinari. In all, it was a good day for some of the forgotten men of British golf. Two more former Ryder Cuppers, Andy Sullivan and Oliver Wilson, continued their pleasing recent revivals with a 64 and 65 respectively. As for the star of the show, Rory McIlroy was as good as his word in giving this event his full attention. A special round looked on the cards following a fast start that saw him pick up four shots in his first seven holes, before bogeys at the eighth and 11th halted his momentum. Still, following a three-week break, he was happy enough with a 67. ‘I thought I played quite nicely,’ said the 30-year-old. ‘The pin positions were generous, and the greens slow, which is why the scoring was so good. Hopefully it won’t be so benign as we go into the weekend, but I don’t mind. You don’t want to be worn out going into next week.’ Donaldson knows it’s asking a lot to earn one of the Open spots, given he’s made just £10,000 from the six starts since his recovery. ‘After so long out I’m just making silly mistakes and it’s costing me dearly,’ he said. ‘Hopefully, this is the start of a good scoring run. Playing badly is no fun at all but you do learn a lot, including to really enjoy it when the good stuff comes. ‘That’s what I’ve been doing, playing with a smile on my face.’