Round 1 Notes: Senior Open Championship

text size

Weather: Variable clouds, breezy and cool with highs only in the low-60s. Steady rain during the afternoon but no delays. Winds were from the NNE at 10-15 mph.

• Current Leaderboard: T1 -- Mark Calcavecchia/Mike Harwood/Mark McNulty/ (-4); T4 -- David Frost/Albert Mackenzie (-3); T6 -- Gordon Brand, Jr. /Angel Franco/Mike Goodes/Bernhard Langer/Lee Rinker/Rod Spittle/Bob Tway (-2).

SENIOR BRITISH

Full leaderboard
Round 2 Tee times
Round 1 Recap
Thursday photos
Champions Insider
Complete coverage
Charles Schwab Cup
Leaders discuss race

• For the second consecutive year, three players are tied for the opening-round lead at 4-underpar. Mark Calcavecchia, the 1989 British Open champion, fashioned a bogey-free 68 in drizzling afternoon rain. In the morning wave, Australian Mike Harwood, a winner of the 1991 European Open at Walton Heath, and Mark McNulty of Ireland matched 4-under 68s in the soft conditions. Last year on Thursday at Carnoustie, Jay Don Blake, Langer and Carl Mason all posted 4-under 67s.

• Three of the last five Senior Open Championships have been won by first-round leaders/coleaders. In addition to Langer last year, Bruce Vaughan shared the opening-round lead at Royal Troon in 2008 as did Loren Roberts in 2006 at Turnberry. So far this year on the Champions Tour, five of the previous 14 events have been won by first-round leaders/co-leaders.

• As has been the case in previous years, there is a true international flavor to this year's championship. The field includes players from 23 different countries. In addition to the United States, it includes competitors from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Namibia, Paraguay, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Zimbabwe and Wales.

• A total of 27 players recorded sub-par rounds today compared to 18 sub-par scores on Thursday at Carnoustie last year. In addition to Mark Calcavecchia (USA/-4), Gordon Brand, Jr. (SCO/-2) and Rod Spittle (CAN/-2) had bogey-free scores today.

• The first-round scoring average at Walton Heath today was 74.55 (+2.55) compared to 74.958 (+3.958) on Thursday at Carnoustie last year.

• Only two birdies were made at the par-4 16th hole -- Rick Lewallen (USA), Boonchu Ruangkit (THA). It was the hardest hole for Round 1 with a stroke average of 4.47.

• Defending champion Bernhard Langer carded a 2-under 70 today. It marked Langer's first appearance in a Champions Tour event since he was T28 at the Toshiba Classic in mid-March. Langer underwent left thumb surgery on March 23 and, after an extensive rehab, didn't return to competition until the BMW International Open on the European Tour in late June.

• There were a total of five eagles made today, but Irishman Eamonn Darcy had the only eagle on a par-4, holing out from the fairway at the 10th hole. Mike Goodes, Marc Farry and John Huston eagled the par-5 second hole while David Frost eagled the par-5 11th hole.

• Australian Peter Fowler, the only two-time winner on the European Senior Tour so far this year, shot 1-under 71 today and is currently T13.

• With several players passing on making the trip across the Atlantic to compete in this event, only five professionals have now played in all 15 official tournaments on the Champions Tour in 2011-- Jeff Sluman, Rod Spittle, Tom Kite, Mike Reid and Gary Hallberg. Kite now has the longest streak of consecutive appearances, making his 25th straight start on the Champions Tour today. The last event he missed was last year's Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie.

• Pat Errity retired after nine holes with an injured back. He was 4-over for the tournament at the time of the withdrawal.