Europe Ryder Cup vice-captain Thomas Bjorn shot a six-under 66 at St Andrews to take a share of the first-round lead at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Thursday.
Bjorn, one of captain Colin Montgomerie’s five backups in the victory over the US at Celtic Manor, led eight other members of the team in their return to strokeplay.
The Links Championship was played over three courses and Bjorn was tied at the top of the leaderboard with Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina, who also played at St Andrews, Maarten Lafeber of the Netherlands, who shot 66 at Carnoustie, and Martin Laird of Scotland, who produced the same score at Kingsbarns.
Six players carded 67 and 14 more shot 68, including USPGA Championship winner Martin Kaymer.
Bjorn was not surprised to perform better than the Ryder Cup players just four days after their celebrations.
“I have done it before. I was vice-captain to Bernhard Langer [in 2004] so I knew how much the Ryder Cup would take out of me,” the Dane said.
Germany’s Kaymer was -closest to Bjorn at four-under at Kingsbarns.
He said he felt duty-bound to recover quickly from the celebrations.
“I was still very tired,” Kaymer said. “But now after the Ryder Cup it’s important for me to win this year’s Race to Dubai. That is my priority since I have obviously a very good chance of winning it.”
England’s Ross Fisher shot a 69 to get to within three shots of the leaders.
However, Montgomerie could shoot only a par 72 as he attempts to restart his playing career after two years concentrating on the match against the US.
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