Frenchman Romain Langasque leads the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship after producing an outstanding 11-under-par opening round of 61 on Thursday.
Langasque – who is 272nd in the official world golf rankings – hit two eagles, eight birdies and just one bogey in his round, equalling the best-ever at The Old Course at St Andrews made by Ross Fisher in 2017.
However, he sits just one clear of compatriot Frederic Lacroix, who went round in 62 at Kingsbarns.
It was a good day for the French as Antoine Rozner looked to have locked out the top three for them, before Dane Niklas Noergaard Moeller also carded an opening round of 63.
“It feels very good,” Langasque said of his achievement. “As I said to my caddie, it didn’t feel like I shot 11 under today. I was having a good run, but just five, six was the way I think of it, but just the end of the course was amazing.
“I holed a few long putts. The game was great but it didn’t feel [like] I shot 11 under.
“I never [thought] I’d have the course record at St Andrews, now I think my name is on this board so I am really happy about this. It’s only the first round so I want to stay really focused for the next few days.”
Eight birdies and two eagles in @Lancaisse‘s opening round ✍️
He leads the way in Scotland. #DunhillLinks
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 29, 2022
Rory McIlroy could not match those numbers at Carnoustie, hitting six birdies and two bogeys as he finished with 68, but the world number two was pleased enough with his first round.
“I started really well,” he said. “I played the back nine very well, then sort of stalled a little bit and made a couple of bad swings coming in. Overall, you are not going to get Carnoustie in easier conditions so I feel like I left a few shots out there.
“It was a decent day and to play decent, you do not want to be chasing in what looks like really bad weather tomorrow so I’ve put a red number on the board and have a few shots to play with.”
Source: Livescore