Olesen leads birdie barrage at Scottish Open

GULLANE, United Kingdom: Thorbjorn Olesen posted an early 63 to lead the Scottish Open after Thursday’s first round allowed the Open Championship hopefuls a chance to use the Gullane links to hone their skills for St Andrews.
The 25-year-old Dane’s seven-under effort was good enough to give him a one-shot lead over England’s Daniel Brooks who came in late with a 64.
A shot further back was a group consisting of American invader Jimmy Walker, Spaniards Adrian Otaegui and Alejandro Canzares, Englishmen Richard Finch, Matthew Nixon and Seve Benson and Johan Carlsson of Sweden.
Among those tied on 66 on a day of low-scoring on the composite East Lothian course were defending champion Justin Rose, American Ryder Cup players Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar and former US Open champion Graeme McDowell.
Scotland’s Russell Knox, a last-minute callup for the injured world number one Rory McIlroy, had a 67.
Phil Mickelson, who won the tournament two years ago en route to his British Open triumph at Muirfield, also in Gullane, signed for a 69.
The 25-year-old Olesen is battling his way back to top form following a series of injuries, including a groin sprain after falling off a camel in Dubai last year and a hand injury that sidelined him for three months earlier this year.
He placed second in the Mauritius Open in May, but had struggled once again since then until Thursday when he returned to links golf he says he feels comfortable with from growing up in Denmark.
“Yeah, I do like it,” he said of seaside golf. “Grew up in Denmark, used to playing in a lot of wind. so I think that helps me around links courses.”
The key to his outstanding start was splitting the tight Gullane fairways and reaching all but one of the greens in regulation.