Golf: Asian duo atop early British Open leaderboard

LYTHAM, England: Scottish Open winner Jeev Milkha Singh of India and Wales Open winner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand shared the early lead at one-under par in Thursday's first round of the 141st British Open.

Singh, who only qualified for the Open with his victory last Sunday at Castle Stuart, birdied the 205-yard par-3 opening hole and parred the next two holes to stand atop the leaderboard with only 10 of 52 threesomes having teed off.

Jaidee, who won in Wales last month, opened with a par and birdied the par-4 second hole to share the top spot.

Japan's Kodai Ichihara had also been at one-under after a birdie at the second but stumbled back with bogeys at the fourth and fifth holes.

Japan's Tadahiro Takayama was in a group of players at level par in the early going under overcast skies and drizzle at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.

Players could be forgiven for adopting a bunker mentality considered there were 206 pot bunkers scattered across the 7,086-yard links layout.

Tiger Woods, a 14-time major champion, was set to tee off later in the morning alongside England's Justin Rose and Spain's Sergio Garcia.

Other early starters include Australian Adam Scott, defending champion Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland, South African Ernie Els, Masters champion Bubba Watson of the United States and English World No. 3 Lee Westwood.

American Michael Thompson, who shared second place at last month's US Open, was added to the field for the championship on Thursday when compatriot Russ Cochran withdrew.

Thompson replaced Cochran, the 2011 Senior British Open champion, alongside England's Lee Slattery and New Zealand's Steven Alker in the last group starting the first round at Royal Lytham and St. Annes before noon.

Thompson, who became the first alternate when American Ben Crane withdrew his name from consideration, has missed the cut in two US PGA Tour starts since being a co-runner-up to Webb Simpson at last month's US Open at San Francisco.

Italy's Matteo Manassero moved into the first alternate spot in case of another pull out among the field of 156 before the final group tees off.

- AFP/al

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_sports/view/1214475/1/.html

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