Ernie Els enjoys the Kings Course at Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland, and it showed on Thursday when he signed for a four-under-par 66 in the first round of the Senior Open Championship to be just two shots off the lead.
Els had pars all the way through the opening nine, but came home strongly with a birdie on 10, and eagle-two on the 14th, and a closing birdie on 18. For his eagle, he drove the green and left his ball inside four feet left of the hole for his eagle putt.
The first-round lead was shared by Steven Ames of Canada and American Glen Day. They led by one from Paul Broadhurst of England, Jerry Kelly and Kent Jones of the United States and Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke. Els shared seventh with six other players, including early favourite Padraig Harrington of Ireland.
One shot back was David Frost, who had a fine start with his three-under 67 for a share of 14th with, amongst other, Thomas Bjorn of Denmark and Germany’s Bernhard Langer.
Retief Goosen and James Kingston each carded level-par 70 for a share of 44th, while Chris Williams had a three-over 73 for a share of 87th. Adilson Da Silva, from Ballito via Brazil, had a one-under 69 for a share of 26th.
