The old adage states that it is not how you start but how you finish which counts and South Africa’s Trevor Immelman proved that point conclusively as a six under par 66 gave him the lead after the first round of the Smurfit European Open at The K Club.
The 25 year old South African grabbed a one shot advantage over his fellow countryman and playing partner Retief Goosen, who opened the defence of his title with a solid 67, and Frenchman Francois Delamontagne, while Ireland’s Gary Murphy and Jonathan Lomas of England shared fourth on 68.
While it all ended well for Immelman, it did not start that way as the three time winner on The European Tour International Schedule produced an horrendous tee shot on his opening hole, the 584 yard tenth, which flew fully 30 yards left of the fairway to flirt dangerously with the out of bounds fence.
He escaped with a par five, thanks to a stunning three iron third shot, but from then on it was all positive for the South African, notching seven birdies in total which more than made up for his only dropped shot of the day, at the 440 yard fifth, where his approach shot came up short.
As with all the best players, he recovered manfully from the blip, birdieing the sixth hole from 12 feet before firing a wedge to 15 feet at his final hole of the day, the 461 yard ninth, and holing out for a closing birdie three.
“I’m delighted with that and I really putted well today which hasn’t been the trend of late for me, so that was really nice,” said Immelman. “I had the last couple of weeks off and spent my time in the States focusing a lot on my putting so it was a fantastic feeling to see a few go in the hole today.
“I was checking the stats and I found that I had been taking one putt more per round this year than I had been in the three previous years. I identified that as my weakness so I spent a lot of time on it, as well as trying to keep the rest of my game in shape as well.”
Goosen looked like he might be the man to claim pole position after he blazed to the ‘turn’ in five under par 32, helped greatly by an eagle three at the 18th. But try as he might, the 36 year old could not make any impression on his inward half and nine straight pars saw him ‘home’ in level par 35.
The South African, of course, won the title last year on the other course at The K Club and admitted he was excited about the chance of a unique ‘double’. “I’ve not really been in contention on this course going into the last couple of rounds before but if I can keep working and build on the start I have had today, then you never know,” he said.
Delamontagne joined Goosen in second place late in the day and admitted he was carrying on the feelgood factor which saw him finish fourth on home soil last week in the Open de France at Le Golf National.
“Last week was very good and I am still feeling the confidence of what I did in France,” he said. “My swing is pretty good and my putting is still working well so that is very good. On the course I was very positive last week and I have tried to keep that feeling going.”
The 26 year old also finished eighth in the Nissan Irish Open earlier in the year and admitted he enjoyed playing in front of the Irish galleries. “They know their golf very well and so it is pretty good to play well in front of them again,” he said.
While all the above players were celebrating excellent starts to the tournament, England’s Simon Wakefield was celebrating the shot of the day, a hole in one from 160 yards at the eighth with a nine iron, which won him a Renault Cabriolet car worth €32,500.
Wakefield, who went on to card an opening one over par 73, received the keys to the vehicle from Bill Cullen, Chairman of Renault Ireland, on completion of his round. He has decided that he will give the car to his mother, Carol.
Wakefield’s good fortune was in stark contrast to Sunday, when his clubs were stolen at the Open de France and he was using a new set for the first time competitively today.
He said: “I wasn’t sure about the yardage. I thought it was an eight iron but Pete, my caddie, felt it was a nine. I pushed it a fraction but that took it right in line and when I saw it disappear I thought: ‘wow – fantastic!’ It’s the eighth hole in one I’ve had, but the first on Tour and the first time I’ve won anything.
“I will give the car to my mum as she’s always supported me and I had bought my wife, Denise, a new Z4 BMW a few weeks ago. We are staying with my parents at the moment and mum still does my laundry! She will be delighted.”
Also celebrating was Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, who fired a three wood straight into the hole at the par five fourth for an albatross two. It was the second albatross of his European Tour career – the first one having come at the 2003 Open de France – and he won a magnum of champagne and a weekend for two at The K Club for his magnificent effort.
