Sergio Garcia starts slowly as Trevor Fisher leads Open de Espana
Thursday 14 May 2015 19:51, UK
Trevor Fisher Jr struck a seven-under 65 to set the clubhouse lead at the Open de Espana, with home favourite Sergio Garcia 10 strokes adrift after a disappointing first round.
The South African, who only managed nine holes of practice ahead of the tournament, fired eight birdies on his way to taking a one-shot first round lead over Eduardo de la Riva, Tommy Fleetwood and Darren Fichardt, as Garcia laboured to a three-over 75 late in the afternoon.
Fisher reached the turn in 33 and responded to a bogey at the par-four first by making gains on five of the next six holes to move ahead of early pace-setter De la Riva, who picked up four shots from his first three holes on his way to a blemish-free 66.
“I hit one or two loose shots but felt I kept the momentum going, which is key to any good round of golf,” Fisher told Sky Sports 4. “I sank one or two good putts for par and overall putted really well today, which helped.
"It's nice to be out here. I can play a full schedule now which is good. It's nice to play with some of the best players in the world. Hopefully we can put a few more good rounds together."
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De la Riva, whose father and grandfather are both former winners at El Prat, was joined on six under by Fleetwood after the world No 54 posted his second eagle of the day at the par-five seventh, before Fichardt closed a first-round 66 to stay within one of the lead.
Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez, whose victory 12 months ago extended his record as the oldest winner in European Tour history, had been two under after five holes but eventually had to settle for a level-par 72.
Garcia dropped three shots on his front nine and made further bogeys at the 11th and 14th as he struggled to replicate his performance from last week’s Players Championship.
After rolling a 20-footer at the 17th, Garcia found the sand at the last and could only make a two-putt bogey to leave plenty of work to do to make the cut.
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