KLM OPEN RELATED STORIES KLM Open Preview Round 1: Andrew Coltart ties European Tour record Round 2: David Carter leads with second 65 Round 3: Carter, Fisher & Alker top leaderboard Round 4: Ross Fisher gains maiden European Tour title KLM Open Scores 2007 European Tour Schedule GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Fred Couples to enlist some unusual help Paula Creamer seeking another home town win Jay Haas on brink of another senior money title Justin Leonard looking to break Texas Open record Father & Son event sign up with Sky Sports GREAT GIFTS FOR GOLFERS The Pocket Golf Professional Golf Breaks to Portugal & Ireland Half Price Golf Vouchers The Father & Son Golf Ch'ship Best Value Golf Insurance

Andrew Coltart ties European Tour record

Andrew Coltart equalled the European Tour's record for nine holes when the Scot came home in 27 shots in the Dutch Open first round on Thursday.

Coltart's run of seven birdies from the turn, in a round of 65 that left him a stroke off the lead held by Japanese Taichi Teshima and Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, was also one less than the tour's record birdie-run.

It is the first time the 1999 Ryder Cup man has shown on the leaderboard for four years after going into a slump. He missed the cut in his last seven events and in 10 of his last 11.

"It has been a hard few years but that's not through lack of trying," Coltart told reporters. "It's nice to see your work get some results for a change.

"And it's nice to have some fresh memories instead of holding on to old ones."

Double tour winner Coltart, a wild-card pick by captain Mark James for Brookline eight years ago, has had to rely on Europe's all-time money-list in recent times to keep his card but now hopes to maintain it through results.

He lies 161st on the money-list.