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Fowler leads with seven-under- par 65 in British Masters first round.
Forest of Arden, June 05: Peter Fowler underlined he is back on the up when the 43-year-old Australian took a one-shot lead in the British Masters after a faultless seven-under-par 65 on Thursday (June 5).
Forest of Arden, June 05: Peter Fowler underlined he is back on the up when the
43-year-old Australian took a one-shot lead in the British
Masters after a faultless seven-under-par 65 on Thursday (June
5).
Fowler is making his latest attempt to set up a second
European Tour victory 10 years since his last.
His seven birdies bettered the efforts of the
second-placed men, Britons Raymond Russell and David Lynn,
Spaniard Jesus Maria Arruti and Marcel Siem of Germany.
Fowler's four birdies in five holes from the third and
three birdies in four holes from the 12th indicated that his
hard work in getting back into winning mode were once more
paying off.
Playing with Tiger Woods in the Tour Players' Championship
three weeks ago along with competing against the youngsters
have proved to him he has a new lease of life.
The Australian showed up for much of the way in last
week's Wales Open before finishing six shots off winner Ian
Poulter.
Russell, the 1996 Cannes Open victor, is another trying to get to the winner's enclosure again. The Scot was again in top form at the Forest of Arden course where in 1997 he equalled the European Tour record of eight successive birdies, picking up shots on the first eight holes. Siem and Arruti played together and agreed they had "bounced off one another". The pair and Lynn are all looking for their maiden European Tour titles. Lee Westwood at last found the sort of form that made him the 2000 European number one as he posted a 67 to share sixth place with Jarmo Sandelin of Sweden finished tied for fifth with Spain's Ignacio Garrido and Lee Westwood. Defending champion Justin Rose is well in touch after a grandstand finish of eagle-birdie for a 69.
Colin Montgomerie slumped to a 73 and had a row with photographers on the seventh as he ran up a double-bogey seven, needing two shots to get out of a ditch.
It was a different story for England's Chris Gane at the same hole, however. He celebrated his 29th birthday by capturing the first albatross (double-eagle) of the European Tour season when he holed out with his four-iron second shot at the par-five hole from 222 yards on his way to a 72.
Tournament favourite Darren Clarke had to settle for a 71.
Leading scores after the first round of the British Masters golf tournament at the par-72 Forest of Arden course on Thursday (Britain unless stated): 65 Peter Fowler (Australia) 66 Raymond Russell, Marcel Siem (Germany), Jesus Maria Arruti (Spain), David Lynn 67 Jarmo Sandelin (Sweden), Lee Westwood, Ignacio Garrido (Spain) 68 Simon Khan, Greg Owen, Andrew Coltart 69 Jean Hugo (South Africa), Matthew Cort, Jean-Francois Lucquin (France), Philip Golding, Mikael Lundberg (Sweden), Justin Rose, Peter Baker, Costantino Rocca (Italy), Peter Lawrie (Ireland), Pierre Fulke (Sweden), Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Stephen Gallacher 70 David Gilford, Raphael Jacquelin (France), Matthew Blackey, Jarrod Moseley (Australia), Jamie Donaldson, Carlos Rodiles (Spain), Patrik Sjoland (Sweden), Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark), Robert-Jan Derksen (Netherlands), Paul McGinley (Ireland), Alvaro Salto (Spain), Santiago Luna (Spain), Richard Green (Australia)
Bureau Report
Russell, the 1996 Cannes Open victor, is another trying to get to the winner's enclosure again. The Scot was again in top form at the Forest of Arden course where in 1997 he equalled the European Tour record of eight successive birdies, picking up shots on the first eight holes. Siem and Arruti played together and agreed they had "bounced off one another". The pair and Lynn are all looking for their maiden European Tour titles. Lee Westwood at last found the sort of form that made him the 2000 European number one as he posted a 67 to share sixth place with Jarmo Sandelin of Sweden finished tied for fifth with Spain's Ignacio Garrido and Lee Westwood. Defending champion Justin Rose is well in touch after a grandstand finish of eagle-birdie for a 69.
Colin Montgomerie slumped to a 73 and had a row with photographers on the seventh as he ran up a double-bogey seven, needing two shots to get out of a ditch.
It was a different story for England's Chris Gane at the same hole, however. He celebrated his 29th birthday by capturing the first albatross (double-eagle) of the European Tour season when he holed out with his four-iron second shot at the par-five hole from 222 yards on his way to a 72.
Tournament favourite Darren Clarke had to settle for a 71.
Leading scores after the first round of the British Masters golf tournament at the par-72 Forest of Arden course on Thursday (Britain unless stated): 65 Peter Fowler (Australia) 66 Raymond Russell, Marcel Siem (Germany), Jesus Maria Arruti (Spain), David Lynn 67 Jarmo Sandelin (Sweden), Lee Westwood, Ignacio Garrido (Spain) 68 Simon Khan, Greg Owen, Andrew Coltart 69 Jean Hugo (South Africa), Matthew Cort, Jean-Francois Lucquin (France), Philip Golding, Mikael Lundberg (Sweden), Justin Rose, Peter Baker, Costantino Rocca (Italy), Peter Lawrie (Ireland), Pierre Fulke (Sweden), Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Stephen Gallacher 70 David Gilford, Raphael Jacquelin (France), Matthew Blackey, Jarrod Moseley (Australia), Jamie Donaldson, Carlos Rodiles (Spain), Patrik Sjoland (Sweden), Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark), Robert-Jan Derksen (Netherlands), Paul McGinley (Ireland), Alvaro Salto (Spain), Santiago Luna (Spain), Richard Green (Australia)
Bureau Report