Thomas Bjørn uses fury as fuel for stunning Senior Open charge

Thomas Bjørn used his day one disappointment to his advantage as he fired a stunning round of 63 to put himself right in contention for a maiden Senior Major title heading into the weekend at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open.

The Dane was on track for an excellent opening round before he bogeyed the 15th and made a double on the last to card a level par 70.

He admits he stewed on that disappointment all night but he was able to channel his anger into four birdies in his opening five holes of round two, going on to match the lowest round of the week so far.

"I was just very angry yesterday when I got home," he said. "I woke up at about 2:00 in the morning still angry from my finish yesterday, three over for the last four.

"I just got out here in that mode of I know I played well yesterday and I was hitting the ball well. I knew I was playing well but I was just angry. Just angry.

"I wanted to get off to a start and hit a great shot on two, which it's not like a given birdie, and then I hit some good shots from there

"The first 12 holes was just an absolute joy and then I hit a ropey drive on 14 and when I go after one hard I normally miss right and I missed this one left, so I got a little bit confused on what was going on.

"Thank God I holed that putt on the last. It helped."

After taking advantage of the par five first, ISPS HANDA ambassador Bjørn hit that excellent approach to set up another birdie at the second before also birdieing the fourth, fifth and short par four ninth to turn in 30.

He then took advantage of a small stroke of luck on the 11th as he pitched in on the par four and when he also birdied the 15th, he led alone at eight under,

A pair of bogeys followed but a closing birdie saw him get back to seven under.

"I hit a great drive and just clipped the overhanging tree and fell down, he said of the 11th. "I hit a beautiful pitch - when it landed it was going nowhere else. It was one of those where you just kind of go, 'well, thank you very much'.

"This golf course has those short par fours, three, nine and 11, but you've got to hit some really, really good tee shots to get them in position around the green.

"I got it in position on nine and 11 today and took advantage of it."