Day one digest: 2021 Hero Open

Everything you need to know from the first round at Fairmont St Andrews.

Gutsy Berry battles wild winds, Wood gets an unlikely bogey and the afternoon starters get the worst side of the draw on day one of the 2021 Hero Open.

Here is everything you need to know from the first round at Fairmont St Andrews.

Luck of the draw goes to the early starters

The morning starters went out in calmer conditions and the leaderboard certainly proved how difficult it got as the opening round went on at St Andrews Bay. American Berry Henson was the only player in the top 20 who started in the afternoon as Calum Hill set a new course record with a flawless nine under par 63. The Scot said: "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." By the end of Thursday, the course was playing five shots harder than the morning.

Brilliant Berry battles brutal afternoon winds

Henson was the shining light as he hit a blemish free 67 to remain in contention despite starting in the winds of up to 30mph in the afternoon. The 42-year-old carded birdies at the first and third before eagling the par five sixth. He reached five under at the next with another gain before parring his way home for an impressive round. Henson said: "I just had fun out there. I stuck to game plan, I hit the shots, played the shots that the course gave me and gave myself a lot of good looks. I mean, it's crazy to say I may have fluffed some out there but on the front nine I definitely had a couple that could have gone in. I love the challenge, I've been accustomed to some of the conditions, I'm up for the challenge but that's why I'm here."

As bogey putts go...

Chris Wood was in a battle throughout his round at Fairmont St Andrews but the Englishman struggled as he carded five bogeys in his final seven holes. He was one under at the turn and was level par standing at the 16th. He had this for a bogey on that green so it could have been far worse for the three time European Tour winner.

Elvira's excellent eagle

Nacho Elvira is riding a crest of a wave after securing his maiden European Tour title at the Cazoo Open supported by Gareth Bale last month. He finished in a tie for 22nd last week at the ISPS Handa World invitational presented by Modest! Golf Management and produced a stunning eagle at the 16th hole here in Scotland.

Fisher flying high in St Andrews

Ross Fisher arrived at Fairmont St Andrews with just one top ten finish in the 2021 Race to Dubai - at the Made in HimmerLand presented by FREJA in May - and has made only one cut in his last five European Tour events. But he returned to form after carding a flawless 65 in the first round and he admitted he was relieved that his hard work has paid off. He said: "(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."