Nick O’Hern and Ian Poulter might have been at opposite ends of the health spectrum but they shared a common scorecard in south Wales as matching seven under par 65s gave the duo a share of the lead after the first round of The Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open.
The Australian and the Englishman moved a shot ahead of Poulter’s fellow countryman Jonathan Lomas with seven players bunched together a shot further adrift on 67, Philip Archer, Alastair Forsyth, Peter Fowler, Ricardo Gonzalez, Richard Green, Malcolm Mackenzie and Jarmo Sandelin.
But the day belonged to O’Hern and Poulter who took advantage of the idyllic conditions on the Wentwood Hills course to equal the course record set jointly by Richard Green, James Kingston and Paul Lawrie in last year’s event.
O’Hern, who took an eight week break back in his native Australia before returning to resume his European Tour season at the Benson and Hedges International Open, admitted the break had left him refreshed and ready to play again.
“It was always planned that way, I had four weeks rest and four weeks practice,” said the 31 year old left-hander. “But my wife is also pregnant back in Australia with our first child which is due in August so my plan was always to travel back and forwards this year.”
The big difference for the rejuvenated Australian was his form on the greens and, incredibly, he single putted each of the first six greens, birdieing four of them. In total, he had 26 putts for the round, six below his season average of 32.
“That is the big difference because with an average of 32 putts a round you can’t really compete out here. But I also like this place a lot and I get a good feeling when I play here. In 2001 I was tied eighth and tied fifth in 2000.”
While O’Hern sparkled with radiant health, Poulter battled through ill health to complete his round before retiring to bed in the hotel. The 27 year old Englishman was struck down by a bout of tonsilitis on Wednesday and had been taking antibiotics since.
“Unfortunately I get this about five or six times a year which is why I always carry a stock of antibiotics with me so that I can take a five or six day course whenever I feel the symptoms coming on,” he said.
“But I am getting to the stage where I have had enough of this and I think this winter will be the time for me to get my tonsils out once and for all to save all this palaver.”
While his health might have been under par, his golf was certainly to the contrary, carding eight birdies in total to counteract his only dropped shot of the day which came when his four iron tee shot overshot the green at the short 14th.
Third placed Lomas, like O’Hern, got off to a flying start at the venue for The 2010 Ryder Cup Matches, birdieing four of the first five holes and he did not make a mistake all day, his other two birdies coming at the 16th and 17th thanks to respective putts of four and 12 feet.
“I’ve been struggling a little bit but that’s the best I’ve played for a long time,” said the 35 year old Englishman. “I’ve been working on trying to cut the ball in and managed to aim left today and actually get a cut on the ball.
“Sandy Lyle’s dad Alex was a big fan of cutting the ball in and he used to teach me as a kid before I got on Tour. Before today I’d been aiming at the pin but then pulling or pushing it and not getting it down the stick. But today almost every shot was right down the banner.”
Of the seven players in a share of fourth place on 67, the most spectacular finish to his round was posted by the 2001 Omega European Masters champion Ricardo Gonzalez who birdied the 17th before eagling the 554 yard 18th, one of only two players to achieve that particular feat all day.
The finish overshadowed his more illustrious playing partner Colin Montgomerie, one of the pre-tournament favourites, who had a difficult day on the greens and who carded only two birdies in his one over par 73.
