October 15-18
Fairmont St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
€1,000,000
Round 2, Round 3, Round 4

Spain's Adrian Otaegui takes a three shot lead into the second round of the inaugural Scottish Championship presented by AXA after an impressive bogey-free opening round of 62.

A hat trick of birdies at the beginning of both nines helped the two-time European Tour winner set a target of ten under par at Fairmont St Andrews, with Englishman Matt Wallace and Bryce Easton of South Africa his closest challengers at seven under par.

“Almost everything worked today," said Otaegui, "I started with three birdies and I played very well from tee to green, felt confident and relaxed. Almost everything went well today. 62 is really, really good. 

“I felt like a good round could come, I didn't know how good but the last two weeks, even if the results were not very good, I was playing very well from tee to green and feeling good. But the putting wasn't there. Today the putting did go well. Same putter, just changed my stance and my grip a little bit.

“I was feeling good in the practice days, but until you play a tournament you don't know what's going to happen. I played the same from tee to green, but the putter was hot today. That was the main difference.”

The venue is hosting a European Tour event for the first time, but Easton in particular is feeling positive vibes, having spent his wedding night at the resort overlooking the famous town of St Andrews.

“65 is always good and even though it's not as windy as it has been over the last couple of days, and the course is playing a bit easier, to be out there in the cold and have two good nines, finishing in the dark and finishing strongly on a couple of holes. I'm stoked with seven under. 

“I saw the ten under on the board (from Otaegui), you can't help but notice that. I expected fours and fives and the odd couple better than that but ten is some serious golf. 

“The course is great. Some of the best greens I've seen in a long time. We spent our wedding night here at the Fairmont, we got married in St Andrews. Good vibes all round. It's a lovely course – views for days – and the greens are holding up quite well considering the wind.”

European Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington and English trio Garrick Porteous, Chris Paisley and Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open champion Aaron Rai are a shot further back after opening rounds of 66.

Ewen Ferguson, Scott Jamieson and Marc Warren are the leading Scots, joining former World Number One Lee Westwood in a group of eight players at five under par.