Few break par as gales play havoc

Gale-force gusting winds played havoc with the Diageo Championship opening round on Thursday, leaving only six players of the 156-field under par.

Rounds of two-under-par 70 by Scottish duo Alastair Forsyth and Marc Warren and Australian Brad Kennedy were enough for a one-shot lead. It was the first time for 10 months, since last year's North West of Ireland Open, that nobody was able to break 70 in the opening round of a European Tour event.

Defending champion Adam Scott of Australia blew his chance of a share of the lead when he four-putted the last.

The 22-year-old had to settle for a level-par 72, two strokes off the pace and in a tie for sixth place with one of the tournament favourites, Colin Montgomerie.

"Four putts from 20ft, that's cost me two shots," said Scott, whose final hole calamity included three putts from five feet.

"I got the ball round nicely otherwise and played very nicely from tee to green.

"It was a day when you're not going to get a lot of chances and it leaves a sour taste to finish like that."

On Wednesday Scott had said that experience of 40 mph winds on European courses was vital to improving his game and that was the strength of the gusts as scores billowed up.

Scott won with a season-record 26-under-par return last year but the winds have already ruled out that sort of score this year.

Between Scott and the leaders are a trio on 71 - Gustavo Rojas of Argentina, Spain's Ivo Giner and England's Iain Pyman.

Kennedy, 29, who concentrates mainly on the Australasian and Japanese tours, is playing only his second European Tour event since finishing runner-up in Kuala Lumpur in February and now has chance to climb from 93rd in the money list.

"I'd love to make the switch full-time to the European Tour," he said after claiming four birdies and dropping two shots in his 70.

"The conditions are not really what I'm used to after playing in Australasia and Japan for the last three years, but I enjoyed it."

Forsyth, a member at Gleneagles, used his local knowledge well, while his compatriot Warren caught him late on, birdieing the last two holes.

Warren sank the winning putt for Britain and Ireland in the 2001 Walker Cup

Zane Scotland, who has forsaken the chance of Walker Cup honours next year to turn professional at the age of 20, produced a creditable 72 on his pro tour debut.

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