Turkish Airlines Open Day 1

36 year-old South African Jaco Van Zyl was the man on fire today at the Turkish Airlines Open in Belek. He shot a sensational eleven under 61 on the par 72 course. He did not drop a single shot, had four birdies on the front nine, and a further four on the back nine as well as an eagle on the par five 11th.

How must Lee Westwood be feeling? He shot an eight under 64, and he’s behind by three shots! He didn’t make the most of the five par fives, only birdieing one of them. His solitary par five birdie on the fourth was also millimeters away from being an albatross.

With his long game being so strong, you would have hoped that he could done better there, but otherwise he played a totally solid round of golf to hold a two shot lead over third placed Chris Wood, who was the early clubhouse leader.

Rory McIlroy is tied fourth with six other players, including Bernd Wiesberger and Kiradech Aphibarnrat. He shot a bogey free 67, so it has been a pretty good days work for him, even if he is now six shots off the lead!

He chipped in on his first hole for birdie, then hit seven pars in a row to make the turn in 36. He needed to make a brilliant save on his ninth hole, the 18th. He drove left and found himself under a tree, and had to play out left-handed. But he still managed to make a par. The back nine saw him make four birdies for a tidy thirty one.

Danny Willett, Rory’s nearest contender for the Race to Dubai title, is back tied 17th with ten other players, including Ian Poulter and Victor Dubuisson, after shooting a three under 69.