MONTY MATCHES PAR ON SENIOR OPEN DEBUT AT ROYAL BIRKDALE

SENIORS OPEN REPORT

FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
American Gene Sauers, who three years ago was battling a potentially fatal skin condition, carded a three under par 67 to lead The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex by one stroke at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Lancashire.

Colin Montgomerie marked his debut with an opening round of 72.

Sauers, a three-time winner on the US PGA Tour, only returned to golf less than two years ago after suffering from the painful Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, which caused his skin to burn from the inside-out.

Making his maiden Senior Open appearance this week at Royal Birkdale, the 50 year old posted a hat-trick of birdies from the 15^th hole to open up a one shot advantage over a four strong group that included 2010 champion Bernhard Langer.

“I'm very proud of that round,” said Sauers, who played in just two Open Championships in his regular career, with tied 58^th his best finish at Royal Troon in 1989. “I just made sure I hit a lot of solid shots.  If you hit it really solid then the wind won't really mess with it too much and so I’m pleased with the way I played.

“It's a great place and a privilege and honour to be here. I’ve not played an awful lot of links golf but I like the different challenge.”

Sauers was initially diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2009 but it was the myriad of medications he was prescribed that triggered the dangerous skin condition.

“It's a second chance,” he continued. “Both arms, both legs were burned up. After doctors at Duke University diagnosed me, I spent seven weeks in hospital, had seven lots of skin grafts and it was torture.  I tell
you, I don't want anybody to go through that.  I'm blessed and I'm glad to be here.”

Langer, who won this title at Carnoustie three years ago and led going into the final round last year, was one over par for the day through 14, but the German put his foot down over the closing four holes to finish strongly, birdieing the par five 15^th and 17^th before a wonderful approach to eight feet produced another birdie at the last.

“How I finished was very pleasing because 18 is not a simple hole,” he said. “I played very well off the tee and into the greens and gave myself opportunities, and finally the putter started working at the end.”

Also on 68 following a testing first day when only ten players broke par were 2012 MCB Tour Championship winner David Frost of South Africa, who eagled the 17^th, Australian Peter Senior and Frankie Minoza of the Philippines.

Minoza opened with a bogey on the first and a triple bogey on the third, before producing the come-back of the day on the back nine, which he negotiated  in 31 shots, with birdies on four of the last five holes to also finish two under for the day.

Meanwhile 2010 European Ryder Cup Captain Montgomerie is five shots off the pace. After opening with nine consecutive pars he dropped three shots in a row following the turn before picking up his only birdie of the round on the 16^th hole to lie in a share of 37^th position.

“There is a lot to do over the next three days, but it is something to build on, certainly,” he said. “So I was quite happy really.  I just messed up 10, 11 and 12, which hopefully, I won't do tomorrow.

“I'm two over, that's five behind.  Remember, not a week ago, Phil Mickelson came from five behind with one round to go and I've got three to do it, so I'm in prime position.”

Defending champion Fred Couples and 1998 Open Champion Mark O’Meara, playing alongside Montgomerie, both signed for four over par rounds of 74, while Tom Watson, who claimed the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale 30 years ago, opened with a 73.

 

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD

Par 70

67 G Sauers (USA) 

68 P Senior (Aus) , F Minoza (Phi) , B Langer (Ger) , D Frost (RSA) 

69 P Fowler (Aus) , C Pavin (USA) , J Cook (USA) , G Hallberg (USA) , J Hart (USA) 

70 G Turner (Nzl) , T Kite (USA), M Kuramoto (Jpn) , R Mediate (USA) , P Wesselingh (Eng) , G Wolstenholme (Eng) , M McNulty (Irl), P Walton (Irl) , M Wiebe (USA) , S Pate (USA) , S Lyle (Sco) , T Pernice Jnr (USA)

71 J Sluman (USA) , J Inman (USA) , S Tinning (Den) , C Lu (Tpe) , K Idoki (Jpn) , R Cochran (USA) , R Spittle (Can) , M Goodes (USA) , L Mize (USA) , J Blake (USA) , K Tomori (Jpn) , G Trivisonno (USA) , J Rivero (Esp) , C Lutz (am) (USA) 

72 B Bryant (USA) , A Sherborne (Eng) , B Cameron (Eng) , S Luna (Esp) , D Mast (USA) , M Martin (Esp) , D Russell (Eng) , S Elkington (Aus) , C Montgomerie  (Sco) , B Lane (Eng) , T Lehman (USA) 

73 S Jones (USA) , T Watson (USA) , P Linhart (Esp) , B Conser (USA) , K Hanefeld (USA) , B Longmuir (Sco) , S Okuda (Jpn) , C Williams (RSA) , A Forsbrand (Swe) , B Ruangkit (Tha) , B Vaughan (USA) 

74 R Chapman (Eng) , C Mason (Eng) , K Spurgeon (Eng) , J Gould (Eng) , T Thelen (USA) , A Oldcorn (Sco) , P Gresswell (Eng) , M O'Meara (USA) , M Kierstenson (Eng) , E Toledo (Mex) , P Golding (Eng) , B Faxon (USA) , F Couples (USA) , M James (Eng) , S Cipa (Eng) , M Cunning (USA) , B Tway (USA) , M Brooks (USA) 

75 M Calcavecchia (USA) , C O'Connor Jnr (Irl) , E Romero (Arg) , D Eger (USA), P Mitchell (Eng) , J Daley (USA) , K Kelsall (Sco) , W Wood (USA), A Webster (Sco), F Funk (USA) , M Allen (USA) , D O'Sullivan (Irl) , C Elliott (Sco) , J King (Eng) , R Lewallen (USA) , J Spence (Eng) , C Rocca (Ita) , G Brand Jnr (Sco) 

76 D Smyth (Irl) , H Buhrmann (RSA) , J Mathews (Eng) , G Brand (Eng) , D Waldorf (USA) , I Woosnam (Wal) , P Dahlberg (Swe) , S Bennett (Eng) , C Stadler (USA) , A Magee (USA) 

77 W Grant (Eng) , B Gilder (USA) , L Carbonetti (Arg) , K Smith (Can) , L Turner (Eng) , R Latham (am) (Eng) , J Volpenhein (am) (USA)

78 L Tenbroeck (USA) , M McLean (Eng) , A Franco (Par) , M Mouland (Wal) , T Price (Aus) , K Tarling (Can) , R Roper (Eng) , K Gallacher (am) (Sco) ,

79 C Bolling  (USA) , G Ralph (Eng) , J Carriles (Esp) , A Murray (Eng) , T Johnstone (Zim) , S Torrance (Sco) , M Ure (Eng) 

80 R Drummond (Sco) , R Sabarros (Fra) , P Way (Eng) , P Jonas (Can) , M McCumber (USA) , J Rutledge (Can) 

81 R Fehr (USA) 

82 M Farry (Fra), M Mackenzie (Eng) , J Bruner (USA) 

83 N Sugai (Jpn), F O'Donoghue (am) (Nir) 

 84 M Lord (Eng) , J Harrison (Eng) ,

 85 J Quiros (Esp) ,

 87 A Atkinson (am) (Eng) ,

 89 J Lubieniecki (Pol) ,

 ** E Darcy (Irl) ,

 

 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS