Senior Open: Bernhard Langer and Miguel Angel Jimenez tied leaders
Saturday 25 July 2015 12:56, UK
Defending champion Bernhard Langer and Miguel Angel Jimenez were part of an eight-way tie for the lead after the opening round of the Senior Open Championship on Thursday.
Langer, who cruised to a record-breaking win at Royal Porthcawl last summer, fired six birdies in an opening-round 65 to move in to an early share of the lead, with Jimenez joining him after picking up a stroke at the final hole.
"My putting was pretty good," Langer told Sky Sports 4. "I don’t feel totally comfortable with my swing and am still working on it.
"I think I’m getting underneath it a bit, which causes a push fade and pull hook, so am trying to improve that area. Overall, five under is a good score. I didn’t make any huge mistakes and was able to keep it together."
The 57-year-old is looking to join Tom Watson and Gary Player as the only players in history to win three Senior Open titles, with a Langer a former winner at Sunningdale during his European Tour career.
Late starter Lianwei Zhang, the first Chinese player to ever appear in the tournament, held an outright advantage after a stunning front-nine 29, but lost ground with a double-bogey at the 12th to also close on five under.
Last year's runner-up Colin Montgomerie bounced back from a three-putt double-bogey six at the 11th to end in the group two off the pace alongside five-time Open champion Tom Watson, who reached the turn in just 31 but posted three dropped shots on the back nine.
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“I hit some quality iron shots, made a few putts, and hit a few awkward shots, but other than that, it was a good round of golf,” Watson said.
During a record-breaking first round, Barry Lane became the first player in Senior Tour history to open with an albatross by holing his second shot at the par-five first, only for Steve Jones to repeat the feat with a six iron several hours later.
Lane closed three adrift of the leaders, while Jones dropped three shots over his closing three holes to end the opening round level par alongside Fred Funk and Sandy Lyle.
A birdie at the last saw former Masters champion Ian Woosnam close a one-under 71, while Sir Nick Faldo got off to a slow start with a one-over 71.
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