Ross Fisher, playing the London Club ‘blind’ having spurned the chance of a practice round, snapped up 10 birdies to shoot a course record nine-under-par 63 in the European Open first round on Thursday.
One of the day’s early starters at 0740 local time, the 27-year-old began his campaign at the 10th hole and completed an outward nine of 33 with four birdies and a solitary bogey.
The big-hitting Fisher then turned on the style on his inward half, scooping six successive birdies to the ninth to charge home in only 30 strokes.
That gave him a two-shot lead over fellow Briton Graeme McDowell and South African David Frost. Teenage Briton Rory McIlroy was in fourth spot on 67.
“I thought I was going to find the course a lot trickier because it was the first time I had seen it,” Fisher told reporters after producing the lowest score of his career.
“I took Tuesday off and was going to come on Wednesday but I just felt too tired from the busy run I had before I qualified for last month’s U.S. Open.”
Englishman Fisher, assisted by a fresh wind on a sunny day on the outskirts of the capital, launched a prodigious drive of around 400 yards on his last hole before chipping to four feet and sinking his putt for a three.
His round broke the record of 64 set by Seve Ballesteros when the Jack Nicklaus-designed Heritage course was officially opened in 1994.
Fisher, who sank a series of long putts and also holed out from a greenside bunker at the seventh, thanked caddie Adam Marrow for steering him round.
“He walked it on Wednesday and basically told me where to hit it. He gave me clubs that were spot-on,” said the winner of last year’s Dutch Open.
“It was all a little bit surreal. On my back nine I was seeing the hole as big as a bucket.”
Fisher, who lies 23rd on the money list and finished joint third in British Open qualifying at Sunningdale on Monday, said he felt so drained at the start of the week he thought of withdrawing.
“I was feeling pretty tired but how do you pull out of an event when you only live 40 minutes away?”, said the Kingston-based professional.
“It would have been pretty difficult to sit at home and watch it on TV. So I thought, no, let’s see how we go.”
McDowell, who claimed six birdies and an eagle later in the day, was mightily impressed with Fisher’s performance.
“That was a fantastic score by Ross,” said the Northern Irishman, who holed a 50-foot putt for a birdie two at the short 11th. “The wind was quite gusty, quite strong at times.
“I was talking to (playing partner) Sergio Garcia early in the round. I said ‘I don’t really see a nine-under-par round out there today, do you?’. He said ‘no’.”
Colin Montgomerie started the defence of the title he won at the K Club in Ireland a year ago by returning a two-under 70. World number eight Garcia carded a 71 while British Open champion Padraig Harrington had to settle for a 72.
South African Charl Schwartzel, twice a winner on the European Tour, slumped to an 11-over 83 which included a nine at the par-four first.
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