Nicolas Colsaerts uses Ryder Cup inspiration to start strongly at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Home hero Robert MacIntyre and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood were the big draws in Scotland after starring in last week’s 16.5-11.5 win over the United States, but it was Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts who scored a 65 in St Andrews and sat at seven under, a shot off the lead
Last updated: 05/10/23 9:24 PM
Nicolas Colsaerts, vice-captain for Europe at the recent Ryder Cup in Rome, sits within a shot of the lead at Dunhill Links
Ryder Cup vice-captain Nicolas Colsaerts showed no signs of a hangover from the European triumph in Rome as he outscored three of his victorious players to move just a shot off the lead after day one of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship .
Home hero Robert MacIntyre and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood were the big draws in Scotland after starring in last week’s 16.5-11.5 win over the United States, but it was Belgian Colsaerts who scored a 65 in St Andrews and at seven under, one behind was Spaniard Adri Arnaus, Swede Sebastian Soderberg and American Peter Uihlein.
Soderberg’s heart pounded at the thought of a 59 over the Old Course as he birdied eight of his first 10 holes, but made no further progress when he was caught by Uihlein and Arnaus.
Uihlein, one of several LIV players to do it on an invitational in Scotland, lost in a play-off at this event 10 years ago and he was bogey-free with eight birdies at St Andrews in just his second DP World Tour event in five years.
Playing Carnoustie – the toughest of the three layouts this week – Arnaus was also bogey-free, starting with three birdies and an eagle at the 14th in a 64.
Playing the Old Course, Colsaerts made five opening birdies after starting on the tenth, bogeying the treacherous Road Hole but picking up more shots on the first, third and fifth.
The 65 was his lowest score of a season in which he has scored just five times in 20 starts, and the 40-year-old admitted he was inspired by last week’s victory in Italy.
“Inspirational, to say the least,” he said. “I always thought there was still a bit of a stallion in me, but when you spend a week with twelve of them, we try to land as softly as possible from the high of a few days ago.
“Everything felt a bit gloomy and dark after the ride of emotions last week, without any expectations, and started hitting good shots and played a nice round.
“If you throw in someone with a little bit of talent last week and play golf the next week, it’s inspiring.”
Home favorite Grant Forrest was alongside Colsaerts after playing Kingsbarns, two for Fitzpatrick, four for Fleetwood and five for MacIntyre, with the Ryder Cup trio all up against Carnoustie on day one.
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