European Tour

Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open 2018

July 12-15

Gullane Golf Club, East Lothian

$7,000,000

July 12-15

Gullane Golf Club, East Lothian

$7,000,000

Round 1

List leads the way at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

July 12, 2018

A sparkling round of 63 was enough to edge Luke List to the top of a packed leaderboard at the end of round one of his debut appearance at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open.

- Getty Images

“The wind is a little tricky on the back, a bunch of crosswind and that left-to-right on three or four holes is a bit tricky. I just managed to make a few mid-range putts and that helps the score card.``

“The weather changes so much around here so it's hard to say if it will be a good draw or bad draw, but I think not too early tomorrow is good. I get to sleep in a little bit and hopefully get some fresh greens and get after that.``

The American equalled the course record at Gullane Golf Club after getting off to a flying start with four birdies in his first six holes to get to seven under par and one shot ahead of the chasing pack.

“ It's been over a dozen years since I've been to the UK to play golf, and my first Open next week, so excited about that. Got some good memories here. A dozen years ago, I played the Palmer Cup in southwest Scotland and come up here to Muirfield with my family here, so been a great start.”

His compatriot Rickie Fowler, who won the Scottish Open the last time it was held in Gullane three years ago, also started strongly and was five under par through six holes, thanks to three early birdies and an eagle on the sixth hole. He joins English pair Robert Rock and Lee Westwood, Jens Dantorp of Sweden and Spain's Scott Fernandez at six under par.

“The front was playing easier than the back and getting off fast and getting under par makes it a lot easier to hold on or try to get a couple extra on the way in,`` said Fowler. ``Feel like I did a good job of that at five under through six.``

“I love playing links golf and being able to use your imagination and hit different shots. I feel like this golf course, you go around and you hit pretty much every club in your bag. You hit driver quite a bit. It's just fun. Especially once the wind starts to blow a bit.”

A further eight players are tied for seventh place just a shot further back at the fifth Rolex Series event of 2018, including current Masters Tournament Champion Patrick Reed and the highest placed Scot, Peter Whiteford, who came through a qualifying event at Longniddry last weekend after suffering from arthritis in recent years.

His fellow countrymen Russell Knox, who lifted the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation trophy last week, and Richie Ramsay are one of a further 11 players on four under par on Scotland's Golf Coast.