Vijay Singh stormed into the first round lead at the US Senior Open Championship after the three-time Major winner from Fiji carded a four under par 66 to move two shots clear of the chasing pack at Scioto Country Club.
The 53 year old is making just his second appearance at the final Major of the season on the over 50s circuit, but his pinpoint accuracy – missing just one fairway and two greens all day – proved that he has all the components to clinch a maiden senior title this week in Ohio.
“I heard a lot about Scioto before coming over here and I had never played it,” said Singh of the Donald Ross layout where Jack Nicklaus learned the game. “Everybody said it was a tough test, and it is. It's a very tough test of golf.
“Any time Jack loves a golf course, it must be good. It's a golf course that you never get tired of playing, I think.
“Every time I tee it up in these events, if I don't win, I'm really disappointed. So I put a lot more pressure on myself, and that's not very good. I force myself to play well over here instead of just playing. So my attitude this week is to just go and play and see what happens.”
Among the five players in a share of second place is Miguel Angel Jiménez, the 21-time European Tour winner who is yet to claim a title on the European Senior Tour.
The Spaniard’s flawless two under par 68 put him alongside the American quartet of Michael Allen, Glen Day, Jeff Gallagher and Gene Sauers and, much like Singh, Jiménez is enjoying the challenge the course presents.
“This golf course demands a lot of that, hitting very good from the tee. And I'm hitting good shots to the green. It's not easy to put it in close. It's not easy to putt here. The weather is good. It's perfect. It's hot and humid.
“This heat is going to drain a lot from you and probably make things more difficult, not because the course is more difficult, but the situation for the players that will be there at the end of the weekend.”
Welshman Ian Woosnam, meanwhile, was a shot further back on one under par while this year’s Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex winner, Paul Broadhurst, finished the day in a share of 13th place after a level par opening 70.
