Scotland’s Michael Stewart made a seamless switch from the Tartan Pro Tour to the DP World Tour as he took a share of the opening round lead alongside Australian Jack Buchanan in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Related: MacIntyre relishing title defence in Scotland
Stewart was runner up in the three-round Duddingston Classic which finished on Wednesday. That meant he had to forgo a practice round ahead of making his debut in the DP World Tour’s Back 9 event which is played across three different links courses.
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The 36-year-old birdied the third hole at Carnoustie then picked up six shots in a five-hole stretch after the turn, which began with an eagle on the 12th hole. The Scot signed for a bogey-free seven under par round of 65.
That score was matched at Kingsbarns by Buchanan, who posted four birdies in his opening six holes and picked up further gains on the tenth, 13th and 16th holes.
Buchanan is also making his debut in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and is targeting a strong performance to retain his playing privileges on the DP World Tour, with the 24-year-old currently in 167th position on the Race to Dubai Rankings delivered by DP World.
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South African pair MJ Daffue and Casey Jarvis are a shot back on six under par after rounds of 66 at Kingsbarns and Carnoustie respectively. Daffue and amateur Paul Harris also share the lead in the team event with Spain’s Ivan Cantero and Thomas Jermoluk on 12 under par.
Meanwhile, fellow South Africans Hennie Du Plessis and Dean Burmester shared the lowest round of the day at the Old Course in St Andrews. The pair are part of a group of seven players on five under par.
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Last week’s FedEx Open de France winner Matt Fitzpatrick, the World Number Four, is a further shot back on four under par after a round of 68 at Carnoustie. Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre opened his defence of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship with a one under par 71 at Carnoustie.
Player quotes
Michael Stewart: I played nice all day to be honest. Lots of fairways, lots of greens and then on the back, the putter got hot. It was nice.
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It’s easy to get yourself up for this event, isn’t it. It was fine (preparation). I played Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, straight here and courses I know well anyway. Played here a lot in the past and just delighted to be part of the event.
Today the putter was really good again which was nice. It’s not been behaving as well as it usually has the last sort of couple of events. Again, the long game was good today and it was nice to see some putts go in on the back nine. The front nine is sort of tricky into that wind and you’re playing the majority of the holes into the wind. You turn and you get to 10, sort of coming in, you know there’s going to be a lot more chances. And I just managed to put myself in good spots and managed to hole some putts.
It’s great. I feel home at links golf. I grew up on a links course. The conditions are a little bit better here than the last few years, which has been nice. I don’t mind the wind. As long as the rain stays away, we’re good to go.
Jack Buchanan: Pretty solid start to the week. Obviously, this is probably one of the easier courses out of the three, but yeah, good start. My approach play was really good. I think I basically hit 18 greens. Took a little bit of stress off myself and yeah made a few birdies.
Last week I felt like my iron play was good and struggled off the tee but I was in play off the tee today. I was able to take advantage of. It’s been a bit of a struggle this year. Kind of missed a few cuts by one but I definitely feel like I’m becoming a better player before it starts to click a little bit.
You don’t get to play much better golf than this. It’s so exciting and, with the Pro-Am, as well, you get to play with cool guys, and it’s a nice and relaxed feel.
