Stenson maintains form in Munich Golf Tips

Stenson maintains form in Munich

June 22, 2011, 9:59 am

Backtoform Swede Henrik Stenson set the firstday pace at the BMW International Open in Munich and even managed to finish with a full set of clubs.

Four days after badly cutting a finger when he broke his seveniron in anger at the US Open, Stenson fired an eightunderpar 64 to lead England’s Gary Boyd by one.

The former Ryder Cup star has fallen from fourth in the world to outside the top 130 in the last two years, but was on the leaderboard for much of last week in Washington.

Peter Lawrie is the best of the Irish quartet in Munich, shooting three under, while Damien McGrane is one under. Gareth Maybin is level after the first day, while Shane Lowry had a disappointing four over 76.

Still wearing a bandage on his finger, Stenson overcame some torrential afternoon downpours to grab an eagle and seven birdies.

‘I don’t think you will find a player who’s been out here 10 to 15 years who has not had some rough times,’ he said.

‘We all go through ups and downs. I’ve been struggling with my game a little bit, but it’s hard to put my finger on what it’s been.

‘I played a lot better last week. My confidence is still not as high as it can be, but I’m working away trying to do the things that are going to lead me back.’

Boyd was joint runnerup in the Italian Open two weeks ago and, like Rory McIlroy in America, broke 70 in all four rounds.

The 24yearold, first man off and playing in much the best conditions of the day, grabbed eight birdies and would have finished the round alongside Stenson but for missing the green with a pitch to his final hole and taking a bogey six.

Compatriot Danny Willett, a teammate of McIlroy at the 2007 Walker Cup, and Scotland’s 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie had 66s to share third place with South African Jbe Kruger and Dutchman Tim Sluiter.

Twice US Open champion Retief Goosen is two strokes further back and Sergio Garcia returned a 69, while on his 48th birthday and on his return from commentating on McIlroy’s amazing eightshot triumph Colin Montgomerie managed a twounder 70.

Alongside last year’s Ryder Cup captain are world number three Martin Kaymer, American star Dustin Johnson, defending champion David Horsey and 18yearold Italian Matteo Manassero.

Paul Casey would have been inside the top 10 but for one hole, the 441yard seventh.

Four under with three to play he hooked into thick rough, moved the ball only a few yards with his first two hacks at it, went over the fairway, then into a greenside bunker and eventually walked off with a quadruplebogey eight.

Casey, round in 72, still finished four shots better than 53yearold Bernhard Langer on his 450th European Tour appearance, while a 14th successive missed cut going back to last November looms large for England’s Nick Dougherty after his 75.

That contained an eagle and three birdies, but also three bogeys, a triplebogey seven and a closing doublebogey seven.

Dougherty battles on, but former Ryder Cup pair Phillip Price and Ignacio Garrido retired after slumping to five and six over par early on.

Golf Tips