Hero Open 2021 R1
August 05-08
Fairmont St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
€1,250,000
Round 2, Round 3, Round 4

Scot Calum Hill made the most of his early start and the calmer conditions it afforded him, remaining bogey-free and setting a new course record 63 at Fairmont St Andrews to take the lead at 9-under in the first round of the Hero Open.

Hero Open 2021 R1

"I putted well. I didn’t put it in places that caused me too much bother - I did make my fair share of putts. One really good 15-footer on number one to save par and a lot of mid range putts for birdies.

"We got the best part of (the weather) 100 per cent. Our front nine was relatively calm, probably half a club wind, then back nine picked up. We got three quarters of our day in quite pleasant conditions, I think it’s just getting worse from here - we took advantage.

Hero Open 2021 R1

Hill was born in nearby Kirkcaldy and enjoyed having the support of his loved ones.

"I really enjoy it. There’s a lot of family and friends who can come and watch, I always enjoy playing in front of people I know. It makes it good fun. Mum, Dad, cousins, uncles, friends, a few people."

Hero Open 2021 R1

Northern Ireland's Jonathan Caldwell eagled the par-4 7th and fired seven birdies and a single bogey to close one shot behind the leader.

"Delighted. Especially with recent form, it hasn't been so good. Delighted that a bit of the work I've done over the last week or so with my coach at home is paying off. Hopefully I can keep going forward."

Hero Open 2021 R1

Englishman Ross Fisher and American Chase Hanna shot bogey-free 65s to tie for third place at 7-under alongside France's Robin Sciot-Siegrist who fired eight birdies and bogeyed the 16th.

"Solid play," said Fisher. "I drove it nicely off the tee. I hit it in one fairway bunker but fortunately that was on a par five and I managed to get up and down for a five. Steady golf, gave myself plenty of looks at birdie and managed to hole a few putts, which is nice.

"(My form) has been frustrating. I missed a cut from nowhere in Germany after starting nicely. Ireland I played well but missed that. Frustration was building up. I knew I was working on the right things, practicing hard, working on the short game, the putter has been the Achilles heel that has let me down the last few years – quite streaky. Nice to see the hard work paying off."

Players who started in the afternoon had to contend with stronger winds but Berry Henson of the USA managed to post a bogey-free 67.

Hero Open 2021 R1