Carl Mason’s love affair with Golf Club Bad Ragaz continued on the opening day of the Swiss Seniors Open, as the Englishman – who is bidding to win the tournament for a record fourth time – finished with five birdies for a round of 63.
Mason took the title in 2007, 2008 and 2010, and his bid for an unprecedented fourth victory got off to the perfect start as he finished with a flourish to set the clubhouse target on seven under par.
The 62 year old, whose 25 European Senior Tour titles is a record, has not tasted victory in the over-50s ranks for four years, but he came into the €300,000 event buoyed by a top three finish in his last appearance, the ISPS HANDA PGA Seniors Championship.
Mason carried that fine form to the Swiss Alps, reeling off three birdies in a front nine of 32, before undoing some of his good work with a bogey at the par five 12th hole.
But he made amends in quite spectacular fashion, plundering a quintet of gains from the 14th hole to surge to the top of a leaderboard he has dominated on numerous occasions.
He said: “To have five birdies in a row on the last five holes certainly helps! I feel very good about my game at the minute. I hit a lot of very good shots today, as well as a few not so good ones, but I only had one bogey on the 12th hole, so that was very pleasing.
“I’m ready for the next two days now, hopefully I can keep this good run going. The heat here isn’t a problem for me – I much prefer it to the cold! And I spend quite a lot of time in Florida, so I’m well used to it.”
James, Europe’s Ryder Cup Captain in 1999, got off to the worst possible start with a bogey at the first, but rallied with three straight birdies to turn in 34.
He then rattled off four further gains on the way home to finish alongside Drummond on five under par.
James said: “A round of 65 is always a good score, no matter where you’re playing. I hit a couple of really good shots out there today, a few that could also have been a bit better. My putting was quite good in the main, but there’s still some room for improvement there. I really enjoyed the conditions today – the course was in good shape, and the hotter the better for me!”
Drummond’s sole bogey on an otherwise immaculate card came on the par four eighth hole, but the Scot notched three birdies either side of that blemish to sign for the lowest round of his season so far.
Home favourite André Bossert admitted to experiencing some early nerves as he opened with six straight pars, but three consecutive birdies from the seventh hole kick-started his round.
Despite a cold putter on the back nine, he signed for a round of 67 which moved him into a share of 11th place.
He said: “I was a little bit nervous on the first three holes. Because it’s my home event, it feels a little bit different to the others – there’s more pressure, and higher expectations. But after three holes, I settled down and played quite nicely. I missed some putts on the second nine – I don’t think I single
