LONDON – Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen shot a 6-under 66 to share the lead after the opening round of the British Masters in his bid to end a four-year title drought and get his career back on track after a damaging court case.
Ranked No. 376, Olesen hasn´t finished higher than a tie for 12th in any of his seven events on the European tour this year but made a strong start in this week´s tournament at The Belfry – a course in central England that has hosted the Ryder Cup.
Olesen birdied three of his first six holes and three of his last six holes in a bogey-free round after going out among the morning starters. He was tied for the lead with Ryan Fox of New Zealand.
“You have to stay in the present, obviously, but it´s been a while since I´ve been in the winner´s circle and that´s my main goal this year,” Olesen said according to AP. “I´ve not been working hard enough for a few years to be at that level, so I know there is a lot of work to be done.
“There have been certain points where you are not sure if you can get back, so it comes down to confidence and belief and there have been a few hard days. But I feel I am on the right track now and starting to get a team back together that is helping me again — I think that is very important.”
Olesen and Fox were a stroke clear of three players – Hurly Long, Ashun Wu and Richie Ramsay.
There was a four-way tie for sixth place at 4 under, two shots off the lead, featuring Rasmus Hojgaard, Justin Walters, Edoardo Molinari and Brandon Stone.
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