Nexo Championship - day one digest

Everything you need to know from the opening round at Trump International Golf Links.

Kinhult on top

Marcus Kinhult holds a two-shot lead over a chasing pack that includes amateur Eliot Baker after the first round at the Nexo Championship in Scotland. The Swede mixed seven birdies with two bogeys in a five-under-par 67 over the Old Course at Trump International Golf Links, on a day of testing conditions that demanded patience. Kinhult, whose sole DP World Tour victory to date came on UK soil at the British Masters in 2019, nearly won his second title earlier this season in Belgium at the Soudal Open. Despite his fast start this week, the 30-year-old insisted there was plenty to improve if he was to sustain his challenge. "It was a very ugly minus five," he said. "Tee to green, it was not great to be honest. I’m not going to complain, I’m very happy with the score, but I was a little bit off off the tee, and also into the green. My short game and putting was unbelievable today, which obviously helps, so I’m happy with the score."

Report - Marcus Kinhult leads as amateur Eliot Baker impresses on DP World Tour debut in Scotland

Amateur Baker impresses ahead of Walker Cup

Announced as part of the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team on Tuesday, Eliot Baker is making his debut in a professional tournament. The 23-year-old has received a tournament invite as he gears up to facing the United States in the matchplay contest next month at Lahinch. Despite being in a new environment, he didn't look overrawed and made an eagle, four birdies and three bogeys in an opening 69 that left him in a four strong group at three under alongside countryman Andrew Wilson, Zimbabwe's Benjamin Follett-Smith and France's Félix Mory.

Daly Jnr holds his own

John Daly II is making his DP World Tour debut as a professional this week. Son of two-time Major Champion John Daly, the 23-year-old is a tournament invite as he looks to make his name in the paid ranks. He made three birdies, one bogey and a double bogey in a 72 that left him just outside the top 20 following the first round. In his post-round media, he credited insights gained from his former University of Arkansas teammates Jacob Skov Olesen and Julian Perico in practice for helping him adjust to the modern links layout in Aberdeenshire.

A day of patience

You can’t win a tournament on the first day, but you can certainly play your way out of it. The classic sports adage was never truer than on a challenging opening day. The umbrellas were out for the early starters, including Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World leader Patrick Reed and defending champion Grant Forrest, when play go under way at 7am local time. While the wet weather gave way as the morning progressed, the wind gusts picked up towards 30mph and temperatures hovered around the mid teens. It was little wonder that a host of players, including Eugenio Chacarra and Andy Sullivan who bith finished with a hat-trick of birdies to sit a level par, were left to reflect on a day that tested their mettle. "That was a long day," said Chacarra. "Four pars in a day to shoot even par, I don't see that very often, it was a grind. The good was good, the bad was very bad."

Old Course proves a fierce test again

The Old Course at Trump International Golf Links is hosting the Nexo Championship for the second year running. Last year, only three holes played under par and things were not easy going again on Thursday. At the end of the day, while there were 20 players to be under par, there was also plenty of evidence that proved many others found the going tough.

Shot of the day

Among those to struggle was Dylan Naidoo, with the South African gateful for this unlikely eagle at the 12th to help him sign for a 76.