ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP

IT'S THAT MAN CASEY AGAIN!
Paul's 63 at Kingsbarns gives him one-shot lead

England’s Paul Casey continued his brilliant year with a nine-under-par 63 at Kingsbarns, made up of seven birdies and a spectacular eagle 2, to give him the first round lead in the 2006 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
He ended the day one shot ahead of Wales’ Bradley Dredge, whose 64 was an Old Course record, and Sweden’s Johan Edfors, who was also playing at Kingsbarns.
One shot further back on 65 is the ominous figure of World No 5 Vijay Singh and England’s Gary Evans.
The tournament, conceived as a celebration of links golf, is played over three of the world’s best known and respected links courses - the Old Course at St Andrews, the championship course at Carnoustie and the highly-regarded Kingsbarns Golf Links.
Joining the professionals were an enthusiastic group of talented amateur golfers including US amateur champion Richie Ramsay from Aberdeen, Marcus Allen, Ian Botham, Zinzan Brooke, Sir Bobby Charlton, Johan Cruyff, Kenny Dalglish, Michael Douglas, Morné du Plessis, Jonathan Edwards, Hugh Grant, Ruud Gullit, Dennis Hopper, Ronan Keating, Kyle MacLachlan, Bill Murray, Sir Matthew Pinsent, Sir Steve Redgrave, Tico Torres and Michael Vaughan.
Fresh from his £1,000,000 victory in the HSBC world match-play championship at Wentworth and another bravura display at the Ryder Cup at the K Club, the highlight of Casey’s day at Kingsbarns was an eagle 2 at the 337yd sixth hole when he pitched in from 80yd.
In total he had four 2s, as he birdied three of the par 3s.
“The sixth is a tough hole today as we couldn’t quite carry the bunkers from the tee shot. I was lucky to avoid the bunker down the left. I thought if I could just get it over the ridge it would run down to the pin, and fortunately it went into the hole,” said Casey.
Casey, who is locked in a tense battle for the European Tour Order of Merit title with Padraig Harrington, David Howell and Robert Karlsson, said he was trying to put it out of his mind and just play golf.
“My goal this week is to have fun and enjoy playing with the amateurs. I had a great partner today in Eric Gleacher. Throwing in nine under par didn’t give him much room to contribute, but he will. He is a very good player and we are going to have fun over the weekend.
“At the moment I am just trying to keep the game simple, find the fairways and find the greens and it seems to be working. I didn’t do anything spectacular today, it was nice solid stuff. It would be wonderful to win the Order of Merit, but if not then it doesn’t matter. I have still had a wonderful year anyway.”
Bradley Dredge’s Old Course record 64 came as a big surprise to him. As he was walked into the clubhouse after a birdie at his last hole, the ninth, having started on the 10th, he was asked how it felt. He looked bemused.
“I had no idea,” he said. “There are a lot of good players who have played this course over the years, so to be the current course record holder is quite nice at the moment. But you never know, if the weather stays good, at the end of the week it might not stay at 64.”
Defending champion Colin Montgomerie, playing with amateur partner Hollywood actor Michael Douglas, had a disappointing day at Kingsbarns with a one over par 73. He said: “I had a good eagle at the third, but it was a mixed bag overall. I didn’t play too well and I have a lot to do now - perhaps too much, but we’ll see how it goes tomorrow.
"Paul Casey played a great round of golf, he hit the ball very long and played beautifully.” SSam Torrance, playing with his 18-year-old son Daniel, thrilled the home galleries with a 67 at Kingsbarns, but he was not sure if he could sustain his challenge.
“My game is all round pretty good. I have been working hard on my swing and although it is not perfect it is as good as it has been for a long time. But I struggle with the length. I played the Old Course in a practice round yesterday and I have never hit clubs like that into the back nine in my life.”
He won the team competition with Daniel in 2003 and is clearly enjoying the experience of playing with him again, sharing fish and chip suppers on Monday and Tuesday as a crucial element of their tactical build-up.
“It’s great playing with him. He’s a good lad and he keeps working away at his game.”
The Torrances are currently on eight under par, two shots behind first round leaders Bradley Dredge & William Dewsall, Louis Oosthuizen & Stephen Trickey and Robert Karlsson & Dermot Desmond.
Daniel said: “Dad played very well and it could have been better but for a couple of bad bounces. I played pretty well myself and just about played to my one handicap.”
Hollywood actor Bill Murray said he enjoyed himself enormously as he and partner Miguel Angel Jiménez scored seven under par at Kingsbarns.
“The highlight for me was walking around the whole course and playing alongside two great players like Miguel Angel Jiménez and Padraig Harrington,” said Murray.
“They shot birdies galore between them which was great fun to watch and I am looking forward to two more rounds with him and Padraig.”
Murray’s fellow actor Dennis Hopper, who with partner Ian Poulter scored two under par at Kingsbarns, said: “I played with Ian two years ago and he’s a great guy and a great player, but he was struggling a bit with his ankle today and had to have it taped up this morning.”
Irish singer Ronan Keating, on six under par with Sweden’s Joakim Haeggman, said: “Today’s round on the Old Course was fantastic and I played out of my skin. I spent the Saturday and Sunday of the Ryder Cup weekend hanging out with the European team at the K Club and I’m hoping to take all the positive energy of that event with me to Scotland this week.
"Music is still a huge passion for me, but golf is not far off. I love spending a weekend watching a professional tournament on TV or going out and playing. Fortunately my wife also plays and my seven-year-old has also started swinging a club.”
Europe’s successful Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam was once again partnering cricket legend Ian Botham. They finished on seven under par at Kingsbarns. Botham said: “Woosie and I have given ourselves a bit of a chance with a back nine of 30. I had a net eagle at our last hole which was a great way to finish.”
Sir Bobby Charlton, who was playing with Stuart Little for a team score of one under par at Carnoustie, was disappointed with his game. He said: “I played absolutely horribly today. It’s a hard course, with a lot of bunkers, although it looks fantastic. The greens are beautiful and if you hit the fairways then you’ve got a good chance.
"I’ve played in this tournament for five years and this year I noticed a few changes at Carnoustie. There were a few extra bunkers at the 17th to make it even more difficult - I’m glad I’m not playing in the Open Championship next year.”
LEADING SCOTTISH PRO SCORES
66 Scott Drummond - Old Course.
67 Sam Torrance - Kingsbarns.
69 Gary Orr - Kingsbarns.
69 Steven O'Hara - Kingsbarns.
70 Marc Warren - Old Course.
71 Paul Lawrie - Carnoustie.
72 Stephen Gallacher - Old Course.
72 Andrew Oldcorn - Old Course.
73 Colin Montgomerie - Kingsbarns.
73 David Drysdale - Carnoustie

*To access the live scoring for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, log on to www.alfreddunhilllinks.com and click on the LIVE Scores link at the bottom of the page.