American Luke List leads the way after day one of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open following an opening seven-under-par round of 63 at Gullane.
List’s round, which included four consecutive birdies on the front nine, puts him a shot ahead of five different players – past tournament winner Rickie Fowler, Englishmen Lee Westwood and Robert Rock, Spain’s Scott Fernandez and Sweden’s Jens Dantorp – who are six-under-par.
The 33-year-old hopes he can build on his promising start in the blustery Scottish conditions.
List said: “It’s tricky out there, but I have managed to make a few mid-range putts which always helps your scorecard.
“The weather changes so much around here, so it’s hard to say if it’s going to be a good draw or a bad draw yet.
“I haven’t got off to a lot of fast starts to a lot of the tournaments I’ve played so it’s nice to get the lead and give me something to build on for the next three days.”
The European Tour event is List’s first taste of links golf in 12 years, and the Seattle-born player added: “We played at Prestwick for the Palmer Cup and got whacked pretty good by Team Europe.
“But it was a great trip, I stayed on with my family for a few days and got to play Troon, Turnberry and Muirfield.
“That was my first taste of links golf and I haven’t been back since so it’s nice to be back here and look forward to the rest of this week and Carnoustie for my first Open.”
Among those a shot behind List is fellow American Fowler, who triumphed the last time the Scottish Open was held at Gullane in 2015.
Fowler feels he has been able to pick up from where he left three years ago, and he said: “I love playing links golf and being able to use your imagination and hit different shots. I feel like this golf course, you go around and you hit pretty much every club in your bag. You hit driver quite a bit. It’s just fun. Especially once the wind starts to blow a bit.”
Englishman Westwood is keeping his feet on the ground after putting himself into contention, and the 45-year-old said: “I didn’t put myself in any trouble all day really – I played really solidly and gave myself lots of chances.
“I’m trying not to get excited at all to be honest. I’m just trying to control the things I can control, which is the stuff I’m working on in the golf swing, and if it happens it happens.
“I like the way I’m playing at the moment, I am seeing improvement pretty much every day.”
Fellow Englishman Rock already has one eye on next week’s Open Championship – but remains uncertain as to what form he will be at Carnoustie in.
He said: “It’s the last chance and it’s always disappointing to not play The Open. I’m going as a coach, anyway, so that’s pretty certain. I’ll be there. But I’d like to be playing, we’ll see.”
Swedish player Dantorp stepped up from the Challenge Tour this season, and he is savouring the experience of coming up against some of the world’s best players.
He said: “It’s fun to play against the better players, great golf courses and good money. So it just feels more special. I love it.”