The Renaissance Club sounds like the perfect place for an artist and that is what Cameron Tringale said he felt like after storming to the first-round lead at the 2022 Genesis Scottish Open.
The American shot a course-record-equalling 61 to lead a star-studded field that included 14 of the top 15 on the Official World Golf Ranking.
Tringale took advantage of kind early conditions when he teed off in the third Rolex Series event of 2022 - a tournament co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR - and was three shots clear of his closest challenger, fellow American Gary Woodland, at the end of an entertaining day.
"It was a lot of fun," said Tringale. "I was really hot with the putter and my ball-striking matched up as well and I gave myself tons of chances and it was just one of those days when they all found the hole.
"My expectations were not so much around score but just about enjoying being here and soaking it all up.
"I think I'm pretty creative when it comes to the shots around the greens and being able to visualise and imagine shots that are not traditional for us in the States.
"I just think it's so much fun to have that kind of optionality and to have fun with those shots. There's probably five ways you can play most shots. It's fun to be an artist out here. In that respect, I like my chances here."
After four straight pars to settle himself in, Tringale birdied nine of the next 11 holes. Every part of his game seemed to be working as he was in close with most of his approaches and when he was not, a 38-footer dropped at the eighth and another long one found the bottom of the cup at the 11th.
After closing his bogey-free round with three pars, he said: "I love playing links golf. It's so much fun."
Woodland, in the group ahead of Tringale, was happy to take advantage of the calm start to the day. And he was just as impressed with the crowd as he was with the course.
He said: "Yesterday was brutal. Yesterday was a nice Scottish day with cold, windy, rainy - but today, the golf course is perfect.
"The fans are so knowledgeable over here. I've been over here and played the golf course next door when it's been rainy and cold, and nobody in the States would be back out playing. They love their golf, know what they are talking about and are nice to play in front of."
Justin Harding sat in third place, four off the lead, while three players - Rasmus Højgaard, Mito Pereira and Kurt Kitayama - were one shot further back on four under.
Kitayama's 66 was impressive given he teed off at 12.45pm when the wind was really starting to blow.
He said: "It's hard to judge every shot. Not really stressing over how much wind there is. I made bogey on ten - you know it's playing hard, and just pars are good out there.
"So you kind of play for those pars and when you get a birdie, it's nice."
Friday's forecast is for more of the same with the wind expected to keep blowing, although the later starters - Tringale and Woodland among them - should get the drier, sunnier weather after a drizzly start to the day in North Berwick.
