Day one digest: 2020 Oman Open

Everything you need to know from day one at Al Mouj Golf.

Migliozzi marched ahead, Hojgaard eyed more silverware and Otaegui took the long way round on day one of the 2020 Oman Open.

Here is everything you need to know from Thursday at Al Mouj Golf.

Guido leads the way

Before Thursday, Guido Migliozzi had never held an 18 hole lead on the European Tour, he had not made a cut in three events on the 2020 Race to Dubai and had not gone bogey free since the third round of the Turkish Airlines Open. On Thursday he showed all the class that made him a two time winner in his rookie season, firing six birdies and no bogeys in a 66 that got him to six under, one ahead of Rasmus Højgaard, Taehee Lee and Brandon Stone. "It’s very good to start the tournament with a 66 and a bogey free round," he said. "It’s a good feeling to work my way into this beautiful course and tournament. Obviously I will try to give my best over the week and for the rest of the year."

Højgaard eyes rookie crown

When you claim your first European Tour win at the age of just 18, it's safe to assume your confidence is going to be pretty high. And when you miss your next four cuts in a row, it would also be safe to assume that that confidence would take a blow. Not in the case of Rasmus Højgaard, who recovered from his victory mini hangover with a bogey free 67 and instantly set his sights on big prizes. "My goal this year is to be the Rookie of the Year and have multiple wins, so that’s what I’m chasing," said the Dane. You wouldn't bet against him.

Stone continues Al Mouj love affair

Brandon Stone finished sixth in the Challenge Tour Grand Final at Al Mouj Golf in 2015 as he graduated onto the European Tour and he has had an affinity with the place ever since. He may have missed the cut at the inaugural 2018 Oman Open and fallen out of contention with an 80 on Saturday last year but his love for the spectacular coastal layout is undimmed. "I’m always going to have a soft spot for this golf course," he said. "This is where I earned my playing rights from the Challenge Tour so I have some history here and I played nicely here last year too. I love the course - it’s in my top five in the world, if I’m being honest, and every year coming back is an absolute pleasure." A bogey free 67 on day one gave him plenty more to love about it.

Otaegui takes a road trip

It's rare that a golfer gets to drive to an event rather than fly so Dubai based Adrian Otaegui jumped at the chance to take a road trip to neighbouring Oman. Pity he went to the wrong border crossing. "I was in Dubai all three weeks from Saudi to here and I was diving anyway with a friend who I played with in the pro-am." he said. "(Caddie) Ian joined us as well and it was a good drive. We chose the wrong border first of all. We had to go to the border at Hatta and we went to Kalba first because someone told us we had to go there but because it was a company car, we couldn't cross there so we had to go to the other border. Apart from that the drive was fine. We drove on Sunday, it was like five hours, the drive was good, we had good company but just chose the wrong border." Otaegui certainly wasn't affected as he fired an excellent opening 68.

Pieters takes out the big stick

You may have noticed that we love a driver off the deck here at the European Tour. But we don't love it as much as Thomas Pieters does. The big hitting Belgian never disappoints.