Day one digest: 2021 Mallorca Golf Open

Everything you need to know from day one at Golf Santa Ponsa.

Winther got hot, Alvaro was enjoying home comforts, we had chip-ins galore and some snazzy outfits were on show on day one of the 2021 Mallorca Golf Open.

Here is everything you need to know from Thursday in the Balearic Islands.

Winther loving island life

There must be something about being surrounded by water that agrees with Jeff Winther. He fired his lowest ever European Tour round with a 62 earlier in the season on Gran Canaria and he matched it on Thursday on Mallorca to lead by one at eight under. The Dane also shot a 64 on Gran Canaria and, while it may have been on the mainland, a 63 at the 2019 Open de España means four of his lowest seven European Tour rounds have come in Spain. "I didn't have any expectations going into this week, got my family here so we are just trying to enjoy it," he said. "I took the whole day off yesterday, didn't touch a club. Warmed up on the range where we can only hit five irons. Apparently that's the way to do it."

Alvaro finds his form

Is the roller coaster career of Alvaro Quiros going to take one more swing in the right direction? After claiming six wins between 2007 and 2011, he lost his card and admitted he was switching his focus to the European Challenge Tour in 2017. A victory that season at the Rocco Forte Open - Verdura, Sicily resulted in a change of plan but he is once again in danger of losing his card at 149th on the Race to Dubai rankings Presented by Rolex. An opening 64 on Mallorca left him just two off the lead and he knows how valuable points will be this week, with just two events to come to keep his playing privileges. "I have played nicely," he said. "At some stages we made a few mistakes because the wind was swirling and changing direction but I've been able to build. Everybody knows how I've been playing this year, so my expectations are only day by day and trying to keep my card, even though I still have far to go to keep it. On a daily basis it's just giving the best that I have, nothing else."

No putters required

It was a day of chip-ins on Thursday and they were going in from everywhere. First it was Adri Arnaus.

Then, continuing the home theme, Alejandro Cañizares got in on the act.

And not to be outdone, Laurie Canter did this.

Magic from Pablo

One of the most common tips this week is stay out of the kikuyu. A few players got caught out by the rough on day one but Pablo Larrazábal clearly was not one of them. What a shot.

Wilco gives it a wallop

The par five tenth at Golf Santa Ponsa I is 645 yards. Wilco Nienaber was hitting an iron for his second shot. That sounds unbelievable but when you drive the ball like this..........

From long drives to long putts

That is how you please the home crowds. Nacho Elvira take a bow.

Dedicated followers of fashion

Martin Kaymer was rocking the geometric look on Thursday and we liked it a lot.

And while we know the plus fours are fairly standard for Joel Sjöholm, that doesn't mean we don't love them.