Belgium’s Thomas Pieters and Richard T. Lee from Canada had low expectations in the beginning of this week’s Worldwide Sequence England however that every one modified at present after they each shot standout seven-under-par 64s to take the first-round lead.
They’re forward of England’s Richard Bland, Chinese language Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang, Atiruj Winaicharoenchai from Thailand and Korea’s Seungtaek Lee, who fired 66s right here on the Longcross course at Foxhills Membership & Resort, in Surrey.
Pieters, who performs for RangeGoats GC on the LIV Golf League, remains to be looking for the type of kind that noticed him triumph on six events on the DP World Tour, however it seems like he’s not far-off after setting the tempo with a spherical made up of an eagle and 5 birdies, the identical as Lee.
“Drove it effectively and putted actually properly,” mentioned Pieters, whose greatest end this yr on LIV was joint fifth in Singapore.
“The course type of fits me; it’s much like the Belgium Open course the place I observe. It’s tight and slim however for those who do hit numerous drivers you may get near a great deal of par fours. You make this course straightforward if you hit it straight.”
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
He was 4 underneath by 5, after he made birdie on the primary two holes and eagled the par-five fifth. Three birdies within the final 5, together with on 18, noticed him catch Lee who performed within the morning.
He added: “I really feel good over the golf ball. I’m placing properly, however I had no expectations this week. I do know the realm, I’m a member throughout the highway at Queenwood, I play numerous golf round right here. So, sure I really feel snug right here.”
Lee fell down the steps three weeks in the past in Korea and has been nursing a sore shoulder since, however he shrugged that off at present.
The Canadian needed to pull out of Worldwide Sequence Morocco final month due to the damage.
“It’s the fitting shoulder that hurts,” mentioned Lee, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, with the latest coming on the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea in 2017.
“I’ve had some good remedy; been figuring out just a little bit; been engaged on my sport. It looks like it’s trending in the fitting means.”
The 33-year-old, who began his spherical on 10 made an eagle on the par-five 14th, the place he attacked the pin with a six-iron second shot and holed a six-footer.
Nonetheless, it was a par save on the seventh, a par 4, that made his day.
He mentioned: “I made a fantastic up and down for par, holing from eight ft. That basically summed up my bogey-free spherical at present.
“It’s a very robust course. You need to place your shot within the good place along with your tee pictures and for those who do you could make a rating. In case you don’t, it will penalise you.
“It’s a decent course however I hit numerous drivers to be trustworthy. I prefer to hit these low lower managed drives and it’s working fairly effectively. Hopefully it really works out tomorrow as effectively.”
GOOD START FOR BLANDY
Bland, who has sensationally claimed two Senior Majors on the Champions Tour this season – the Senior PGA Championship and the US Senior Open – seemed like he would additionally end the day within the lead however made bogey on 15 and 17.
“When the wind will get up it may be troublesome, which is what occurred,” mentioned the 51-year-old.
“I’m pleased with the best way I performed, it’s a very good begin.”
His compatriot Andy Sullivan from England is subsequent greatest positioned after a 67, together with Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, Gunn Charoenkul, Nitithorn Thippong, and Pavit Tangkamolprasert, and Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg, Robert Dinwiddie from England, and China’s Sampson Zheng.
4-time DP World Tour winner Sullivan is coming off a two-week break and was delighted to begin effectively.
He mentioned: “Scored effectively, wouldn’t say I performed nice. It positively reveals I’ve not carried out lots in two weeks. I took the youngsters on vacation, simply been pre-occupied with the youngsters. Been out with my mates a bit having a very good time. Haven’t performed a lot golf so at present was about seeing the place we’re. It has positively highlighted I’m nonetheless struggling off the tee.”
American John Catlin, chief of each the Asian Tour Order of Advantage and The Worldwide Sequence Rankings, returned a 68, whereas New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, winner of Worldwide Sequence Morocco, got here in with a 69.
This week’s US$2million event is the ninth occasion of the yr on the Asian Tour and the fourth cease on The Worldwide Sequence.
