Print

Mail

wiki links

Albatross helps Swede share lead at Russian Open

England’s Ross McGowan tees off during the Russian Open at Moscow Country Club in Nakhabino on Thursday. PHOTO: AP

Joakim Backstrom had an albatross in a 7-under 65 on Thursday to share the lead with three others after the first round of the Russian Open and John Daly struggled to shoot a 70.

Backstrom of Sweden is at the top of the leaderboard with England’s David Carter, Roope Kakko of Finland and Fredrik Henge of Sweden.

Daly has recently been struggling with his form, missing the cut at the BMW International Open last month and at the British Open last Friday.

He birdied three of his last four holes on Thursday, but still felt the effects of a right hand injury.

“It’s hurting pretty bad,” Daly said. “But luckily the ground here is soft so I can get through the ball. That wasn’t possible last week. If the course had been hard this week, I probably wouldn’t have been able to play.”

He opened with two bogeys, followed by a birdie. Another bogey and a birdie left him 1 over at the turn.

“It could have been really bad,” he said. “I probably hit two of the worst iron shots that I have ever hit on Tour. I struggled a little bit, but managed to get it to 2 under. I think it’s the best that I could have scored.”

Backstrom, who started on the back nine, had two birdies before he holed the par-5 15th with his second shot from 233 yards.

“I hit it well and it pitched on the green and then disappeared,” Backstrom said. “I walked up to the green and it was there in the hole. It was a great start — 5 under after six holes, which was great.”
This story has been viewed 659 times.