Day one digest: 2020 Portugal Masters

Here is everything you need to know from a fascinating first round at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course.

Liam Johnston held a one shot lead over Julien Guerrier at the end of the first round of the 2020 Portugal Masters after neither man carded a single bogey on Thursday.

Here is everything you need to know from a fascinating first round at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course.

Johnston's birdie blitz puts him in control

Johnston has not been at his best since losing his European Tour card at the end of his rookie season last year. But the Scot says he feels like his game is trending in the right direction and he showed us the proof on Thursday as he rattled in ten birdies and no bogeys to storm to the top of the leaderboard. A 59 did not look beyond him at one stage after he made back to back birdies at the 15th and 16th to get to nine under before giving himself an outside eagle chance on the long 17th. But he had to settle for a birdie there and a par at the last on his way to a sensational 61. Frenchman Guerrier got within a single shot of Johnston in the afternoon after notching nine birdies and no bogeys.

Kawamura's par never in doubt

Masahiro Kawamura gave himself a huge par putt at the 18th after his chip from the front of the green came up way short. But he made it look like a straightforward two footer as he walked it in to sign for a four under par 67. How cool was this?

Defending champ makes decent start

Steven Brown got his title defence off to a lightning quick start as he reeled off three birdies in a row at the fourth, fifth and sixth to get to three under par. He would go on to make two more birdies and two bogeys in his opening 68 to sit alongside Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwood on three under par.

Breaking par

This time last week just five players were under par after the first round at the famously difficult Real Club Valderrama. This week, the picture at the top of the leaderboard is a little bit different. As many as 65 players were under par, with the leader ten under par, eight better off than last week's co-leaders after 18 holes.

Golf for Good continues

The European Tour’s Golf for Good initiative continues to make a difference, with more money being raised this week. Tournament partner Vilamoura World has pledged up to €25,000 to be split between two local worthy causes - their nominated charity Existir and APEXA, who have been nominated by Turismo de Portugal – with €200 set to be donated for every birdie and €500 for every eagle scored on the par five 17th this week. The European Tour will match that donation, allowing long time Portugal Masters charity partner EDGA (formerly the European Disabled Golf Association) to benefit, and ensuring that the three charities will secure up to €16,666 each. On day one, 49 birdies and three eagles were made at the 17th, while Shubhankar Sharma made an albatross from 241 yards.