After an enthralling first day at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, europeantour.com takes a statistical look back at Thursday in Scotland...
DAY 1 IN NUMBERS AT THE DUNHILL LINKS
8- Shots under par leader Oliver Wilson was at Carnoustie - a course record-equalling 64
6- Other players have scored that low a score at the Angus venue previously (Alan Tait - 1994; Colin Montgomerie - 1995; Steve Stricker, Richard Green - 2007; Thomas Levet, Shane Lowry - 2014)
64- Wilson's score in the first round of the Dunhill Links 12 months ago at Kingsbarns, when he shared the lead
95- Weeks since the Englishman's last top ten finish on The European Tour - at the 2012 Madeira Islands Open
66- The lowest score of the day at Kingsbarns (Shane Lowry)
67- The lowest score of the day on the Old Course (Adrian Otaegui, Robert Rock)
7- Years since Padraig Harrington won his first Claret Jug at Carnoustie in 2007 - he rekindled those memories with a fine 66 there on Thursday
8- Of the last 8 winners of the Dunhill Links have shot 68 or lower on Thursday - proving a fast start is essential in this tournament
390- Yardage of Rory McIlroy's drive at the 18th at Carnoustie in the first round
150- Yardage of Rory McIlroy's fatted tee shot on the first - proving it can literally happen to the best of us
0- Professional starts for England's Ryan Evans before this week - he fired a superb 67 to launch his paid career at Kingsbarns
5- Nationalities in the top ten following the opening exchanges (3 Englishmen, 2 Irishmen, 2 Frenchmen, 2 Spaniards, 1 Scot)
339- Thomas Pieters' average drive on Thursday
12- Shots under par the leading Pro-Am teams were (Gregory Bourdy, Andrew White, and Peter Lawrie and Kieran McManus)
68- The lowest score of the 4 Ryder Cup heroes in the field (Stephen Gallacher at Carnoustie)
3- Of the top four following the first day to have played at Carnoustie - traditionally the toughest of the three layouts in the Dunhill Links
1400- Year that golf was first reported played in the St Andrews area
40- Miles per hour winds could gust to on Friday
167- Professionals that will surely be left hanging on to their hats (The field minus Robert Rock)
