Door is Open to Law to be a Hero after trip to the Home of Golf
DAVID LAW fed off the feelgood factor from playing all four rounds at the nearby Old Course to make a superb start at the Hero Open. The Aberdonian and local boy Connor Syme both carded seven-under 65s in yesterday’s first round at Fairmont St Andrews. But on a low-scoring day it was Zimbabwe-born American Sean Crocker who set the pace with a course record 63 to lead by one. Law said: “I felt a little bit inspired coming off the Open. I really enjoyed the pressure of it all, as it’s the biggest stage in golf. It’s nice to come back and be in this area so soon after that week where I learned I was comfortable playing on that stage. “A lot of guys don’t enjoy it and the pressure can be too much but I realised I can cut it with the best players in the world.” Law, who carded eight birdies and one bogey, had been forced to call on his manager Michael McDougall to step in when his regular bagman fell ill.
He added: “Max was ill and couldn’t make it so I got my manager in. Mike was really good. He’s caddied in a tour event before, so he knew what he was doing and we had a good time out there.”
Crocker dropped only one shot in a round that contained eight birdies and an eagle in his quest to capture a maiden DP World Tour title.
He said: “I don’t get too many days like that on the greens but it was fun.
“It seems to be that when I get going early, it ends in a nice low round.”
Defending champion Grant Forrest made an encouraging start, posting 68 for four-under but said: “I didn’t play too well. I struggled a bit off the tee.”
LEADING SCORES: 63 Sean Crocker (USA); 64 Adrian Otaegui (Spa), Romain Langasque (Fra), Ashley Chesters (Eng), Ben Stow (Eng), Jens Dantorp (Swe); 65 David Law, Connor Syme, Victor Dubuisson (Fra), Ross Fisher (Eng), Oliver Farr (Wal), Tom Gandy (IoMan). OTHER LEADING SCOTS: 66 Scott Jamieson; 68 Grant Forrest, Richie Ramsay,
Greig Hutcheon, Craig Howie, Sam Locke.