Good way to start, says McIlroy

Published Jan 12, 2017

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JOHANNESBURG – Modderfontein professional Trevor Fisher Jnr went out in the second match of the day on Thursday, at 6.40am, and shot a stunning 6-under-par 66 to hold the lead for much of the first day of the SA Open at Glendower, until he was matched late on by Keith Horne, who also fired a 66.

The duo hold a one-shot lead over a big chasing group, which includes World No 2 Rory McIlroy.

Fisher and Horne both mixed seven birdies with one bogey to take the lead into the second round on Friday.

Starting at the 10th, Fisher Jnr dropped a shot at his second hole – the 11th – but then made birdie at 12, 13, 15, 16, 17 and 18 to turn in 31.

He followed that up with a further birdie at the 1st – his 10th hole – but then didn’t make another birdie.

Horne, starting at the first, birdied the second, fourth and eighth, and then on the back nine, the 10th, 12th, 16th and 17th. He dropped a shot at the par-five 15th hole, something that irked him afterwards.

“It was an ugly bogey. I lost concentration there at one stage, but overall I’m happy with the round,” said Horne. “It’s nice to get a good start.”

Fisher Jnr said: “It was a good round. I hit some bad shots, but I hit some good shots too, and the ball really went where I wanted it to go with the good shots.”

Asked how he felt about be in front at his home Open, Fisher Jnr said: “The pressure is nice, and the crowds are nice, so you sort of get in your bubble and zone.”

Also scoring well in excellent conditions in the morning were Thomas Aiken, Dean Burmester and hot favourite and crowd-pleaser McIlroy, who all shot 5-under 67s.

In equally benign afternoon conditions, England’s Jordan Smith also fired a 67, as did Jbé Kruger, to join a big group of players who are just one shot back.

Aiken, who went off the 10th, finished with five birdies in a row after not making one on his front nine. “Nice way to finish my round,” said Aiken.

“We were trying to put on a show this morning, but it wasn’t really happening until my last five holes. That makes a big difference.”

All eyes though were on McIlroy who, after teeing off in front of a huge crowd on the 10th tee at 7.10am, thrilled the fans with some monster drives and excellent putts, turning in 4-under after making four straight birdies from 14 through 17.

He made another at the par-five second, but then dropped shots at the fourth and fifth before finishing strongly with further birdies at the sixth and eighth.

“It was good,” said the man from Northern Ireland.

“I mean, it was the first competitive round for 2017. I felt I gave myself a few chances on my first nine... could have been six- or seven-under.

“Five-under is a good way to start this tournament.”

Defending champion Brandon Stone fired a disappointing 74 to be 2-over par to be way down the leaderboard – the same score registered by Ernie Els.

Sir Nick Faldo, at 59, will be happy with his 2-under par 70.

Former Proteas cricketer Johan van der Wath came in with a respectable 2-over 74.

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