No Joak-ing in Russia

Albatross helps Backstrom set the early pace in Russian capital

Last updated: 25th July 2008

John Daly Inteco Russian Open Championship Round one

Daly: Recovered from a slow start on day one

First round leaderboard:
GB & Ire unless stated
David Carter -7
Joakim Backstrom (Swe) -7>
Roope Kakko (Fin) -7
Fredrik Henge (Swe) -7

Also see

John Daly continued his European Tour adventure with an opening round of 70 at the Inteco Russian Open, though the American is still five shots off the pace.

A group of four players sit on top of the leaderboard on seven-under, Joakim Backstrom amongst them thanks in no small part to a rare albatross.

The Swede is joined at the summit by compatriot Fredrik Henge another Scandinavian, Finland's Roope Kakko and Englishman David Carter.

South African Darren Fichardt is just one shot back on his own in second, with Jose Manuel Lara then one of three Spaniard's in a 10-man group on five-under.

Early pace

Starting on the back nine, Backstrom had set the early clubhouse target at Le Meridien Moscow Country Club with the first round of 65 on the day.

He had already birdied the 12th and 14th when he holed his second shot to the 561-yard par-five 15th, although he did not know what he had achieved until he reached the green.

"It was a four iron from 233 yards," Backstrom said. "It pitched on the green and then disappeared, but the people sitting around the green didn't really react.

"They gave me a clap, but not the kind of reaction that you would expect for an albatross so I wasn't sure what happened.

"But when I walked up to the green it was there in the hole. Thank you very much! It was a great start, five under after six holes."

Back in form

Carter, who partnered Nick Faldo to glory in the World Cup a decade ago, later moved level with the early leader thanks to a run of five birdies in a row from the first onwards.

After struggling badly at Royal Birkdale last week, carding rounds of 80 and 89 to finish on 29-over-par, Daly suffered a poor start in the Russian capital, dropping two shots in his first four holes.

However, the man known as 'Wild Thing' quickly settled down and finished in fine fashion with three late birdies to see him home in 33.

His excellent back nine leaves Daly on target to make his second halfway cut from four appearances on the European Tour this year.