Denmark’s Ryder Cup player Soren Hansen and Britain’s Ross Fisher produced blistering finishes on Thursday to claim a one-shot lead in the Dunhill Links Championship.
Both carded eight-under 64s to fend off German Martin Kaymer, another player who nearly made Nick Faldo’s losing team at Valhalla.
Padraig Harrington shot a 67 in his first event back after a disappointing Ryder Cup, a round boosted by a storming finish which yielded five birdies in the last six holes.
PHOTO: AFP
The Irishman, who has three major titles to his credit, is keen to add a second order of merit.
“When you’re leading it you want to win it,” Harrington said. “The first question you will be asked when you retire is how many majors have you won, but orders of merit come a close second.”
Hansen celebrated his return to individual play by picking up four shots in his last three holes at the Kingsbarns course, closing birdie, birdie, eagle.
PHOTO: AFP
“It was an incredible feeling, I looked up at the leaderboard when I’d finished and thought what happened there?” he told reporters. “The day was really enjoyable because you are trying to get back to normal [after the Ryder Cup] and find some energy.”
The Dane is playing with world heavyweight champion boxer Wladimir Klitschko in the pro-am style event over three courses (St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns). The championship features an individual professional tournament and a team event where leading golfers are paired with amateurs, including the likes of Hugh Grant, Samuel L. Jackson and Tim Henman.
Fisher’s finale was nearly as stunning as Hansen’s as he closed with three birdies.
After his failed attempt to make Faldo’s team, finishing two places away from qualifying for the Ryder Cup, Fisher is now going all out for his third win of the year.
“The Ryder Cup proved a disappointment but it hadn’t been my goal at the start of the year,” the Englishman said.
“I’ve actually achieved the main goal I set myself — to win again. In fact I’ve done it twice, now I’m aiming to stay in the top 10 in Europe and top 50 in the world by the end of the season,” he said.
With three courses being used, nine of the lowest 12 scores of the day came from Kingsbarns — only Thomas Levet’s 67 at Carnoustie broke the top 20.
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