Sunday 28 June 2015 18:41, UK
Henrik Stenson bounced back from a frustrating week at the US Open to lie within two shots of the BMW International Open first round lead.
The world No 7, who referred to the Chambers Bay greens as like “putting on broccoli” on his way to a tied-27th finish, showed little sign of the jet-lag that had affected him pre-tournament as he carded eight birdies during a solid opening round 67 to lie two adrift of a three-way tie for the lead.
Playing in the featured morning group alongside Martin Kaymer and Shane Lowry, Stenson found the putting surfaces at Eichenried Golf Club more to his liking as he recovered from a triple-bogey at the 16th to rattle in five gains on the front nine.
Stenson almost picked up another shot at his final hole, but saw his second shot at the par-five ninth bounce off a cart path into a hospitality tent, before two putting for par from eight feet to join the group on five under including Tommy Fleetwood and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
“I would’ve taken five under,” Stenson told the European Tour website. “I didn’t do too much wrong on 16 but still walked away with a triple.
“I then came to my senses, started playing some golf afterwards and wrapped up a string of birdies. I was in a great position to finish with five in a row at the ninth, but I was in-between clubs and there was a bit of a wind switch.”
A hat-trick of birdies to finish from Andrew Johnston saw the Englishman briefly hold the clubhouse lead on six under, before a blemish-free 65 from Denmark’s Lasse Jensen saw him move top of the leaderboard.
Jensen was later joined on seven under by Lyoness Open runner-up Rafa Cabrera-Bello, with Daniel Gaunt completing the trio in a share of the lead after opening his round with three successive gains.
“It was a good finish,”Johnston said. “You've got to hit the fairways. The greens are amazing, so if you get on there and you're rolling it, you can hole some putts.
“You've just got to keep going, not get too up when you're doing well and just keep trying."
Four birdies from the final five holes saw James Morrison leaves him part of a five-way tie on five under, while two eagles from Kevin Phelan helped him join the group a further stroke back.
Looking to follow on from last week’s top-ten finish, Shane Lowry struggled to an opening round 72 after three successive bogeys on the back nine, while playing partner Martin Kaymer, who missed the cut at Chambers Bay, needed to slide in from five feet at his final hole to also finish level par.
Watch the second round of the BMW International Open live on Friday from 10.30am on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.
