Five years after making his debut in the Ryder Cup at Valhalla, Oliver Wilson is once again at the summit of a European Tour leaderboard. It’s been a tumultuous few years for the likeable Englishman, since he recorded nine runner-up finishes between 2006 and 2009. After a gradual decline in form, Wilson would lose his European Tour card at the end of 2011, and he has spent the past two years rotating between Challenge Tour and any invitations for the main Tour. This week, Wilson received an invitation to compete in the lucrative Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and he took full advantage of that opportunity on Thursday at Kingsbarns.
Wilson would shoot 64 at Kingsbarns, the youngest of the three stunning links courses used in the rotation of this $5 million tournament, to share the first round lead at eight-under alongside fellow Englishman Tom Lewis and Richard McEvoy, Mark Tullo of Chile, and France’s Alexandre Kaleka.
Starting at the 10th at Kingsbarns, which is situated just outside of St Andrews, Wilson would complete his front-nine in a solid two-under, with benign conditions allowing players to go low at all three sites. However, as he began his second nine, it was here that Wilson would make his move courtesy of an eagle at the third, in addition to birdies at the second, fifth, eighth and ninth holes. In the end, it would all add up to a round of 64, and puts him in a strong position with the Old Course at St Andrews on the agenda tomorrow.
”I'm playing a lot better,” said Wilson. “For the first time in probably over a year actually, I have some control over my shots and am able to hit the shots and trust it under pressure as well. I'm driving the ball way, way better, which is essentially the thing that had disappeared. I wasn't able to get it in play, wasn't able to get it on fairways and, in any wind, I was really in trouble.
”It was nice of Dunhill and Johann Rupert to give me an invite to this event, because it's going to be a great test.”
Wilson’s form has been encouraging on the Challenge Tour, with second and fifth place finishes in his last three events. The 33-year-old from Mansfield added: “We've played some good courses the last few weeks and I've played well and that's built my confidence. I have a chance to get my card at the end of the year a few various ways and obviously there is a chance this week as well.
”I just have to keep playing well. Wherever I play, if I play well, it's only a matter of time before I get to I where want to get to, so that's the most important thing. The game is improving all the time and everything's settled down and moving in the right direction. It's nice because it's been a while.”
All five of the players tied for the lead finds themselves outside the top 110 in the Race to Dubai. With just two events remaining of the main season after this week, players are scrambling to ensure that they retain their playing privileges for next season.
One of those is Tom Lewis, who also shot 64 at Kingsbarns this afternoon. Two years ago, he burst onto the scene at the Open Championship, as he won the Silver Medal as the leading amateur at Royal St Georges. A few months later, after turning professional, Lewis would win the Portugal Masters. However, his progression hasn’t gone smoothly since, and he finds himself way down at 155th on the money list.
“Winning so early helped me compete at the top level but at the same time probably hurt me as well by expecting too much, too early,” said the 22-year-old.
”I'm learning and it's a shame that I haven't performed better over the last couple of years, but when I'm back at the top, I'll be ready to be back at the top whereas before I probably wasn't.
”You just want to give up half the time. It's a good job but any job is tough, especially at the level here the guys are playing at. Obviously I've been through tough times and been upset a lot of the time, and it's actually been probably the toughest two years of my life.”
Fellow Englishman Richard McEvoy is way down at 171st on the Race to Dubai, with his stunning round of 64 at the Old Course seemingly coming from nowhere. After starting at the 10th, he would play the back nine on the legendary links in two-under, before producing a superb performance on the front-nine with an eagle at the ninth completing the outward half in just 30 shots.
The 34-year-old would card an opening round of 64, and he is under no illusions that victory has to be his objective with Carnoustie in his sights tomorrow.
“Three years ago I finished well (eighth) in this event to keep my card, but at the moment I'm so far down in the back of my mind I need to win, really. But if I go out, I need to go out with a bang, so I've got to give it a shot, and that's what I did today.”
Mark Tullo and Alexandre Kaleka played alongside each other at St Andrews, and produced a clinic for spectators and their amateur partners alike. Both are outside the top 110 on the Race to Dubai, with Tullo hoping not to relive the agony of losing his card by just one position two years ago.
Tullo is 114th on the money list, and enjoyed the challenge of the old links. “It was good. I played with Kaleka today, and we both got into a quick start, so we were feeding off each other with good shots, good birdies.
”I have to admit I do enjoy links golf courses. I like to use my imagination around the greens sometimes.”
Also enjoying the challenge of the revered course that has hosted the Open Championship on 28 occasions, Kaleka was equally pleased with his day.
“No bogeys, eight birdies, so that's a dream round. It's always special to play the Old Course, so I'm very pleased with that day and I hope Sunday will be, as well.”
With calm conditions at all three of the courses, low scoring was the theme of the day. Jamie Donaldson’s 65 at Carnoustie, the most difficult of the three venues, was arguably the round of the day, as he moves onto Kingsbarns tomorrow. Providing spectators in attendance and on television with the opportunity to see some of the world’s leading professionals, and famous amateurs, navigating their way around these three iconic courses is always a highlight of the season for fans worldwide.
With calm conditions forecast for the remainder of the tournament, we are surely promised another thrilling shootout at the Home of Golf.