TURKISH AIRLINES OPEN FIRST-DAY REPORT

 

 MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ ... holed his first approach of the day for an eagle. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)

JIMENEZ LEADS BY ONE AFTER A 

NINE-UNDER 63 START IN TURKEY

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Miguel Angel Jiménez put himself in contention to break his own record as the European Tour’s oldest winner when the 50 year old carded an opening round of nine under par 63 to lead the Turkish Airlines Open at Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Antalya.
The evergreen Spaniard got off to a dream start by holing his first approach shot of the day, to the tenth, for eagle, and duly followed up with seven birdies in a flawless performance 
 That left him one stroke ahead of Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter, who continued his fine form from last week’s WGC-HSBC Champions with a sparkling round of 64. 
The highlight of Poulter’s day was an eagle three at the 13th hole, and the Englishman added seven birdies to sign for his lowest round on The European Tour this season. 
 His compatriot, Tyrrell Hatton, Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge and Australian Wade Ormsby – whose back nine featured eight birdies and a bogey – are all in a share of third place on seven under par. Key quotes 
Miguel Angel Jiménez 
 “It's special, because I’ve been struggling a little bit over the last few months, so when you shoot nine under par, you feel really good. I started to roll the ball much better on the greens today, and after that my confidence improved a lot. 
“I like this golf course. You have some long holes, you have some short holes, so you have a very nice mix. I feel comfortable on this golf course – it feels very, very Mediterranean, similar to Málaga. It’s the same kind of trees and the same kind of the soil there.” 
Ian Poulter  
"I’m right back where I want to be. Within a space of a couple of weeks, I feel really good about myself again. I don’t have any aches or pains, which is really nice, and I’m swinging it as well as I have for a long time. 
“I feel physically strong again, and that means I can practise better. And when I practise and start holing some putts, then I’m going to be full of confidence like I am right now. 
 “The second round last week was the best I’ve played this year, but I’d say that might just top it. It was very good golf today.” 
SCOTSWATCH
Stephen Gallacher and Marc Warren are among nine players sharing sixth place on five-under 67.
Chris Doak is T23 on 69 while Scott Jamieson is T34 on 70. 
Colin Montgomerie did not carry over his Senior Tour form. He shot a 76 for T67 alongside Aberdonian Richie Ramsay
Monty even designed this course in southern Turkey.

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 72
63 M A Jimenez (Spain)
64 I Poulter (England)
65 T Hatton (England), W Ormsby (Australia), Brendon de Jonge (Zimbabwe)
67 O Fisher (England), A Sullivan (England), H Otto (S Africa), B Grace (S Africa), R Wattel (France), E Molinari (Italy), M Warren (Scotland), D Willett (England), S Gallacher (Scotland).
68 A Levy (France), G Bourdy (France), M Kaymer (Germany), S Dyson (England), D Fichardt (S Africa), E Grillo (Argentia), R Jacquelin (France)
 OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
69 C Doak (T23)
70 S Jamieson (T34)
76 C Montgomerie, R Ramsay (T67)

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 EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS