Jamie Donaldson's drive in Kenya hit a tree and sailed back over his head
Former Ryder Cup star Jamie Donaldson saw the funny side when his drive at the seventh clattered into a tree, sailed over his head and landed several yards behind him at the Kenya Savannah Classic!
By Keith Jackson
Last Updated: 23/03/21 5:09pm
0:45
Jamie Donaldson hit one of the most bizarre shots ever seen on the European Tour as one of his drives ended up behind him at the Kenya Savannah Classic.
Leaderboard
<a href='https://www.golfchannel.com/skysports/tours/european-tour/2021/kenya-savannah-classic-presented-absa' target='_blank' class='instorylink'>Kenya Savannah Classic</a>
Donaldson was hoping to build on his first birdie of the day at the sixth, but he pulled his drive off the seventh tee towards the trees and the microphones picked up the resounding thud of his ball hitting a trunk.
The Welshman's eyes then told us the result as he followed his ball back over his head, but he at least saw the funny side of having to play his second shot from the side of the sixth green - around 30 yards behind where he had started the seventh.
3:45 He almost managed to escape with a bogey-five but lipped out from three feet, and although his response was impressive, with four birdies in five holes lifting him to two under par, he then bogeyed three in a row and returned a one-over 72 which left him eight shots off the lead.
Seven different nationalities were represented in the top 10 after the first round, with Dutchman Joost Luiten, Spaniard Alejandro Canizares, France's Clement Sordet and last week's Kenya Open champion Justin Harding all tied for the lead on seven under par.
English pair Marcus Armitage and Ross McGowan are both one behind after opening with 65s, although Armitage cost himself a share of the lead after finishing - and starting - his round with bookend bogeys.
Scottish veteran David Drysdale is also on six under having alerted the "59 watch" brigade with a stunning first nine holes, making seven birdies in a back-nine 29 before a double-bogey six at the third took the wind out of his sails.
The Northern Ireland pairing of Jonathan Caldwell and Cormac Sharvin also joined the logjam in a tie for fifth, with Sam Horsfield - twice a winner in last year's UK Swing - among 14 players on five under par.
European Tour confirm Austrian event
The European Tour has announced that the Austrian Golf Open will return to the Race to Dubai schedule and take place at Diamond Country Club in Atzenbrugg next month.
The tournament was last held in July 2020 to mark the resumption of the European Tour season, following a three-month suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with this year's €1million event taking place from April 15-18.
The event moves into the date vacated by the Tenerife Open, which will now be held from April 29-May 2 after the postponement of the Portugal Masters due to coronavirus travel restrictions.
Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour, said: "Throughout the pandemic, we have had to be agile with our scheduling and today's announcement is another example of that. We are naturally grateful to Diamond Country Club and the Austrian Golf Federation for once again helping us to continue to provide a full schedule and playing opportunities for our members."
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