Dwelling hero Robert MacIntyre and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood have been the large attracts in Scotland after starring in final week’s 16.5-11.5 win over the US but it surely was Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts who carded a 65 at St Andrews to sit down at seven beneath, a shot off the lead
Final Up to date: 05/10/23 9:24pm
Nicolas Colsaerts, a Europe vice captain on the latest Ryder Cup in Rome, sits a shot off the lead at Dunhill Hyperlinks
Ryder Cup vice captain Nicolas Colsaerts confirmed no indicators of a hangover from Europe’s triumph in Rome as he outshone three of his victorious gamers to sit down only a shot off the lead after day one of many Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship.
Dwelling hero Robert MacIntyre and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood have been the large attracts in Scotland after starring in final week’s 16.5-11.5 win over the US but it surely was Belgium’s Colsaerts who carded a 65 at St Andrews to sit down at seven beneath, one behind Spaniard Adri Arnaus, Swede Sebastian Soderberg and American Peter Uihlein.
Soderberg had pulses racing on the considered a 59 over the {Old} Course as he birdied eight of his first 10 holes however made no extra progress as he was caught by Uihlein and Arnaus.
Uihlein, one in every of a number of LIV gamers teeing it up on an invitation in Scotland, misplaced out in a play-off at this occasion 10 years in the past and he was bogey-free with eight birdies at St Andrews in simply his second DP World Tour occasion in 5 years.
Arnaus was taking part in at Carnoustie – the hardest of the three layouts this week – and he was additionally bogey-free, beginning with three birdies and including an eagle on the 14th in a 64.
Colsaerts was taking part in the {Old} Course and he made 5 opening birdies after beginning on the tenth, bogeying the treacherous Street Gap however choosing up additional photographs on the primary, third and fifth.
The 65 was his lowest rating of a season the place he has made simply 5 cuts in 20 begins, and the 40-year-old admitted he had been impressed by final week’s win in Italy.
“Inspiration to say the least,” he stated. “I’ve all the time thought there was nonetheless a bit of little bit of a stud inside me however if you get to spend every week with 12 of them, we’re attempting to land as softly as potential from the excessive of a few days in the past.
“All the things felt a bit of bit gloomy and darkish after the trip of feelings final week, and no expectations in any respect, and began hitting good photographs and performed a beautiful spherical.
“While you throw anyone with a little bit of expertise in final week and you then play golf the week after, it’s inspirational.”
Dwelling favorite Grant Forrest was alongside Colsaerts after taking part in Kingsbarns, two away from Fitzpatrick, 4 forward of Fleetwood and 5 away from MacIntyre, with the Ryder Cup trio having all taken on Carnoustie on day one.