Bernhard Langer fired a four-under-par 67 to earn a share of the lead after the opening round of the Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie.
German joined by Blake and Mason after opening rounds of 67
Bernhard Langer fired a four-under-par 67 to earn a share of the lead after the opening round of the Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie.
The German, bidding for a first major title on the 'round-bellies' tour, joined England's Carl Mason and Jay Don Blake of America atop the leaderboard at the difficult Scottish course.
Langer made a flying start with a birdie at the opening hole and a hat-trick of birdies from the seventh took him to the turn in 32 shots.
He picked up another shot at the 14th and although he gave it back at the next he was well pleased with his day's work.
"I'm very happy with it," said the former European Ryder Cup captain.
"I birdied the very first hole and had some further chances the next few holes, then had a nice run there on seven, eight, nine when I birdied those three - there's a lot of tough holes on the back nine."
Plugged
Mason was another to admit the closing holes represent the one of the toughest run-ins in the game after he had stormed to the turn in just 31.
However, his chances of an outright lead were ruined when his 3-iron approach to the 10th hole ended with his ball plugged in the steep face of a greenside bunker.
"It was so bad there was no way I could get the ball out at the first attempt," he said after taking a double-bogey six.
He hit back with two quick birdies but despite playing the closing four holes in one over when the wind had dropped, he denied he missed an opportunity.
"That is a very tough closing stretch," he said.
Amongst the many Americans on the leaderboard are US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin, who went round in 69, and former skipper Tom Lehman, who carded a 71.
Sam Torrance was the only other European to break par with a round of 69, coming home in one under par.
