Michael Hoey’s bid to avoid pre-qualifying for next week’s British Open began brightly on the bonny, if somewhat sodden, banks of Loch Lomond this morning.
There are eight Open places up for grabs at the Scottish Open with a top eight finish guaranteeing automatic passage to Muirfield.
It is also likely that the top eight will not include all of those players who already earned exemptions and in all probability a top-15 finish could well suffice.
Bearing that in mind, Hoey’s three-under par 68 in today’s opening round, which leaves him tied for sixth in the clubhouse, just one stroke off the early lead, was exactly the start the young Belfast professional was looking for.
Having finished 11th at this venue last year, Hoey will be hoping for at least something similar this year to negate the need for a potentially hazardous Open qualifying ordeal.
Meanwhile, Paul McGinley, who has suffered a horrendous run of form in recent weeks, may finally be turning the corner. The Dubliner, plagued by a string of missed cuts this term, is two-under par through 13 holes as he attempts to get his season back on track.
Scottish amateur Barry Hume shares the early lead at four-under par with America’s Brad Faxon and the English pair of John Bickerton and Justin Rose.
Darren Clarke tees off at 12.50 p.m. this afternoon.