Scot David Law shot a fine 64 to lead the Betfred British Masters after the first round of the European Tour’s UK Swing at Close House. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

DAVID Law fired a flawless seven-under opening round 64 at the Betfred British Masters to take a one-stroke lead at the first tournament of the European Tour’s UK Swing.

The 29-year-old Scot, who has one European Tour title to his name, hit a red hot streak with seven birdies in eight holes from the sixth.

The only par during that run came courtesy of a wondrous save from the heavy gorse at the 11th.

Law said: “I was playing steady. You might not be sure what to expect coming into today after the long break. I was delighted with that.

“It’s still a little strange, but the Tour have done a fantastic job. So far I think it’s gone really well.

“The club has hosted us really well. It’s a new time for us, we’re all learning and we’ll all have to get used to it.

“The whole week so far has been very positive,” added the two-time Scottish Amateur champion.

“We’ve been lucky at home and not had anyone affected by the illness, thankfully.

“My daughter is 19 months old, so to have that extended time at home, I’ll never get that again. We had a great time.

“It was a nice time for me because I wasn’t playing the best going into that break. It was a good time to recharge and regroup.”

Fisher so happy be back playing golf

DAVID LAW, who won last year’s ISPS Handa Vic Open, finished the day one shot clear of Essx’s Oliver Fisher and Northumberland’s Garrick Porteous.

The English pair matched Italy’s Renato Paratore, who carded a round of 65 at Close House Golf Club, on the outskirts of Newcastle.

Fisher, who famously became the first player to shoot a 59 on the European Tour in Portugal two years ago, said: “I added my score up at the end and it’s weird to think I’ve shot 65 today.

“Obviously I’m chuffed about it. It’s weird to be back and playing professional golf, and I’m delighted with my score.

“I started off okay, the pins here and the greens are quite tricky in places. They tuck them and there are ridges on the edges of the greens where it can fall off and they can catch you out.

“There was a little bit of rain and it was quite fiery. There was a bit of a skid going, so with wedges early on it was hard to get close.

“I travelled up a couple of days ago, we’ve got a nice run in the UK. A lot of things to enjoy and hopefully we can all continue with social distancing and sticking to the routine of doing everything as properly as we can.

“The Tour have been great at stressing that to us. I’m delighted to be back and delighted with my score.”

Local knowledge helps Garrick Porteous

Garrick Porteous who won The Amateur Championship in 2013.
Picture by DAVID CANNON

GARRICK Porteous, who won The Amateur Championship at Royal Cinque Ports in 2013, revealed a lot of local knowledge had contributed to his good start.

The 30-year-old, who played in the 2013 Open and made his Masters debut in 2014, has been confined to the Challenge Tour for most of his six years as a professional.

Porteous, who earned his European Tour card at last year’s Qualifying School, said: “I’ve played a few mini-tour things in the Leeds area.

“But I live 15 minutes from here, so I’ve been practising here a lot. I’ve played the course for so many years now anyway.

“It’s in great condition. I’m pretty familiar with the course, but its in the best condition I’ve ever seen it.

“Knowing the course so well can put a bit more pressure on you. I probably felt that early on.

“Once I settled down and made some birdies it was alright. I made some good swings and some good birdies.”

Physical work in lockdown pays off for Paratore

PARATORE, who hails from Rome, said: “I played really solid. I had a bogey-free round and played really well from tee to green.

“I started really well with three birdies, I saved a couple of pars with some really good putts – a solid round.

“It was a good way to come back. It was good to know the European Tour was starting again.

Renato added: “It wasn’t easy during the lockdown. I’m really happy to be here right now.

“During lockdown I didn’t practice, just physically and rested a lot,” said the Italian, who lost a play-off to Danish teenager Rasmus Højgaard in Mauritius, in December.

“Then golf courses reopened, so I started to practice a lot in June. So I prepared well for the first tournament,” said the winner of the 2017 Nordea Masters.

Tournament host Lee Westwood, battled to a one-under 70 while Oxfordshire’s Eddie Pepperell had a solid start on his return to golf after four months out, signing for a four-under 67.

•For live scoring in round two and to follow David Law click here.

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Chartam Park’s Tom Thurloway is looking forward to adding his Open debut to the England Amateur Championship and Walton Heath Open Amateur he won last year. Picture by SUSSEX COUNTY GOLF UNION

SUSSEX reigning English Amateur champion Thomas Thurloway was another amateur to have a great day at Final Qualfying for the 148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush, later this month, finishing in the top three at Notts Golf Club’s Holinwell.

The England international, from Crawley, who carded two rounds of 69 to finish one shot behind Darlington’s former England international Andrew Wilson on six-under after carding a total of 138.

Thurloway, who is about to go into his senior year at the University of Toledo, had what can only be described as a rollercoaster finish to his second round during which he drove the green on the 346-yard par-four 16th – but then left his eagle putt in the jaws of the hole.

He then watched as his drive on the long 17th clip a tree and drop into the rough no more than 100 yards from the tee. From there he did well to escape with a par-five before completing the job with his fifth birdie of the round on the closing hole.

“It was pretty crazy finish but I’m just glad I did enough to get the job down. I still can’t quite believe it. It’s been a strange sort of year for me after winning the English Amateur. I did win the Seminole Intercollegiate in the States, but I haven’t done quite as well as I thought I would.

“This makes up for all of it though. I’ve always dreamt of playing in The Open and to do it while I’m still am amateur makes it even more special. I’ve never played Portrush but I know a couple of guys who live there so I will have to get on the phone to them. I can’t wait to get there and experience the atmosphere.”

Wilson carded rounds of 69 and 67 to take top spot at on seven-under-par after posting a total of 137. He was five-under through 17 holes of his morning round before carding a double-bogey six on the 18th – but then bounced back in the second round with five birdies in an opening nine half of 31.

The 25-year-old former English international went on to birdie the 14th but then dropped his first shots of the round on the 15th and 16th before regaining his composure to bag two closing pars.

Wilson, who is attached to Rockliffe Hall, the same club as Web.com player Callum Tarren, said: “It means the world to me to play in The Open. It’s awesome. I’ve only been a pro for six months so it’s a big achievement for me and something I’m sure I’m going to get a lot from.

“I felt pretty confident until I bogeyed 15 and 16 and after that I was just praying for two pars. I’m buzzing now but I’ve got to drive home tonight and then go to the next EuroPro Tour event tomorrow.”

The third player to qualify at Notts was former England international Ashton Turner, from Derbyshire. The young Lincolnshire EuroPro player led Final Qualifying last year to earn his spot at Carnoustie.

But this time Turner had to do it the hard way by carding rounds of 67 and 72 and then beating David Coupland at the third hole of a tense play-off with a bogey five after both players had driven into a fairway bunker off the tee.

Turner. who overcame being diagnosed with cerebal palsy at an early age, to become an England junior and Daily Telegraph Junior Champion in 2013, said: “I am very relieved. It was stressful second round. I left myself quite a few testers but fortunately I managed to get most of them in.

“It’s a shame the play-off ended the way it did but I can’t wait to get to get to The Open and give it another go. I’m sure I will learn from my experience last year. It was a bit surreal but now I know what to expect.”

Essex teenager Curtis Knipes tops Prince’s qualifiers with Callum Shinkwin

Lancastrian Jack Senior also made it to The Open for the second year in a row when he finished alongside former Amateur Champions Garrick Porteous at St Annes Old Links on 10-under after carding a total of 134, with Matthew Baldwin, a former England Boys captain, the third qualifier a stroke behind.

Senior, from Heysham just up the Lancashire coast, added his second 67 of the day to finish alongside Newcastle-on-Tyne’s Porteous, who had earlier set the mark of 134, also with a matching pair of 67s.

Senior – the winner of the Hampshire Hog at North Hants in 2011 – bagged five birdies in a row from the second to move to 10-under then birdied the 10th and 12th to storm clear only to drop shots at the 13th and 15th holes before parring home.

“I just like the golf courses round this area and it’s great to make it through for the third time having qualified at Hillside and now here for the last two years,” said Senior who has played on the EuroPro, Alps and Challenge Tours after turning pro eight years ago.

“It’s a dream to play another Open Championship. I missed the cut last year but hopefully I can do the business at Portrush,” added the 30-year-old who beat Jordan Spieth in the 2011 Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen, when Great Britain and Ireland beat the USA.

Porteous, The Amateur champion in 2013 at Kent’s Royal Cinque Ports, in Deal, had a mixed bag of eight birdies and three bogeys, clinching his place with birdies at the two closing par fives. He said “It means the world to make it. It’s everyone’s dream and it’s such a special year being in Ireland. I’m sure the crowds will be something else.”

Baldwin, from Southport, led after an opening 65 then added an afternoon 70, breaking away from the pack on eight-under with a birdie at the par-five 18th, when he got up and down from 40 feet from just off the green to seal the final qualifying place.

Baldwin, who has been to Qualifying School six times since 2007 and has played five full seasons on the European Tour, said: “I played as good as I’ve played all year this morning. Not so good in the afternoon.

“But it’s incredible to get to Portrush. I’ve played the Irish Open there before. It’s a great course and I’m really excited to be going back,” added the former England Boys captain.

Jack Senior, who won the Hampshire Hog back in 2011. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES

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