Edfors & Drysdale lead with 65s - Barclays Scottish Open 2006

Sweden's Johan Edfors, twice a winner already this season, sprinkled nine birdies in a six-under-par 65 to share the lead with Briton David Drysdale in the Scottish Open first round on Thursday.

Edfors and Drysdale took advantage of calm and sunny conditions at picturesque Loch Lomond to move one stroke ahead of British duo Darren Clarke and Miles Tunnicliff.

Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal was on 67 alongside Australian David Bransdon and Britons Raymond Russell and Andrew Butterfield.

Edfors, 30, who won the TCL Classic and British Masters titles earlier this year, made a blistering start with four birdies in the first five holes.

He dropped strokes at the sixth, 12th and 16th but made further inroads on par at the eighth, 10th, 13th, 15th and 18th.

Edfors took time off after being drained by his British Masters victory at the Belfry in May.

"In four weeks I only played two rounds of golf," he told reporters.

"Then I went down to Paris (for the French Open) and missed the cut. Last week I did a lot of practice with my coach, and on my own as well, and it has paid off."

Drysdale, backed by his home crowd, was consistency personified.

Starting his round at the 10th, the 31-year-old Scot picked up six birdies in an error-free display.

"It is fantastic, I am over the moon," said Drysdale, who does not have a full European Tour card and is playing on a sponsor's invitation.

"My wife was watching and my Dad and quite a few friends. I don't know but everything up here in Scotland, playing in front of a home crowd, feels different and it is difficult to explain."

Earlier, Clarke explained why Sundays were proving less than fun days for him.

Bob Geldof's Boomtown Rats once sang about a dislike of Mondays and it seems the same applies to Clarke and Sundays.

"I am close to playing okay but mentally I am not quite there," said the 37-year-old from Northern Ireland.

"I am making a few silly mistakes, especially come Sunday. My Sunday score average this year is very, very high, which is totally out of character for me."

Last week's European Open at the K Club in Ireland typified Clarke's season.

He went into the final round two shots off the pace but a closing four-over 76 ruined his chances and victory went instead to fellow Briton Stephen Dodd.

"Doddy played really nicely but I didn't perform at all again," said Clarke. "Unfortunately there have been quite a few Sundays this year when I have done that."

Twice former U.S. Open champion Hale Irwin, 61, finished his round in brilliant fashion with five successive birdies to shoot a three-under 68.

Fellow American Fred Couples pulled out with back trouble before the start of the round.

Scot Sam Torrance, 52, making a record-breaking 700th tour appearance, carded a 74 while South Africans Retief Goosen and Ernie Els returned matching 70s.