PERCY IN FRONT AS MCGINLEY LEADS IRISH CHARGE
Australia’s Cameron Percy leads the ISPS HANDA Senior Open title at Gleneagles in Scotland (Photo: Getty)
Paul McGinley emerged as the leading Irish player after the opening round of the ISPS HANDA Senior Open at Gleneagles, where defending champion Pádraig Harrington remains in touch with Cameron Percy’s overnight lead.
McGinley opened with a two-under 68 to be just outside the top 20 and five of Australian Percy’s lead after an opening 63. McGinley will have fond memories of the renowned Scottish venue as the place where he captained the European Ryder Cup team in 2014.
Defending champion Harrington, who despite a couple of challenging weeks, arrived at Gleneagles having won a third US Senior Open earlier this month. At level par Harrington will hope to move closer to the lead today.
"There are some great names on the trophy," Harrington said after last year's victory, reflecting on joining an illustrious list of champions that also includes Darren Clarke. "It means a lot to add my name to it."
Clarke, who famously won the Senior Open when it was last staged at Gleneagles in 2022, faced a tougher test on the King's Course. The Northern Ireland golfer battled to a one-over 71.
Leader Percy made a dream start in a round containing eight birdies and just the one dropped shot at the 13th. A run of four consecutive birdies from the ninth was one of the highlights.
“I drove it really good, but you have to here,” said Percy. “I didn’t hit in the rough once and so that was really nice. Seemed to have really good numbers, and I stopped pretty close to the hole and made a couple of putts. The par fives, I drove on in two and the short par four I drove, and that helped.
“Sunningdale was incredible last year. Any time I can come over here and play golf, I’m very happy.
“I’ve never been here before. But I found something late yesterday. The last four holes I hit it really nicely and did it again today. Hopefully I’ll keep doing that and I’ll be okay.”
Lionel Alexandre from France is Cameron’s closest challenger on six-under, while South Africa’s Ernie Els is just two back on five-under, one ahead of Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez.
