Spanish Open: Spain's Jose Rivero mastered the windy conditions to become a surprise front-runner after yesterday's opening round of the Spanish Open.
The 49-year-old former Ryder Cup player joins the European Seniors Tour in September, but he headed the youngsters at San Roque, the European Tour qualifying-school course, with a solid round of two-under-par 70.
That earned him a share of a one-shot lead with six others, including compatriots Santiago Luna and Diego Borrego, Italy's Emanuele Canonica, Scotland's Steven O'Hara and Swedes Peter Hanson and Peter Gustafsson, who won of the tour school qualifying on the same course last November.
And another former Ryder Cup layer show his liking for testing conditions was Philip Walton, who had four birdies in a one-under-par 71 to be just a shot behind the leaders. Walton won back his card last year at the same San Roque course, after six years off tour.
And he was joined on that mark by Peter Lawrie, who fired five birdies but also threw in a triple-bogey seven at the eighth.
But the winds played havoc with Paul McGinley's game, and the Dubliner, the highest ranked player in the field, dropped seven shots over as many holes in the middle of his round, including two double-bogeys, to eventually sign for a 76.
Damien McGrane and Gary Murphy fared better with 73s, but Stephen Browne struggled to a 77.
With the tricky breezes inflating the scoring, Rivero showed the sort of form that earned him Ryder Cup appearances in 1985 and 1987, both times on the winning side, and four European Tour titles.
He lost his full Tour card in 2001 and since then has played mainly domestic competitions in Spain.
With the Seniors Tour looming, though, Rivero is happy to show he can still play.
"This week I'm just playing to enjoy myself," said Rivero. "I do not have further aspirations on the European Tour and have no intention of coming back. My goal is the seniors."
Luna, at 42, also showed there is life in the old Spanish dogs.
"It's good that the old boys can still do it," he joked. "I'm pleased for Jose. He's retired but he can still play."
Meanwhile, Seve Ballesteros has not given up hope of being fit for the British Open, despite a knee injury.
The 48-year-old Spaniard suffered the injury this week, just before he was supposed to make his comeback here. The Spanish Open was the last Tour title he won back in 1995.
Ballesteros was optimistic, however, of making the major at St Andrews, where he achieved his favourite victory.
"I have time to get ready for St Andrews still," he said yesterday. "If I have no more problems, I will be ready to play. I was hoping to start my season this week and it was here where I hurt my knee while I was practising.
"I was using the practice mat to hit some balls when my foot stuck in the mat and I turned my right knee."
Ballesteros acknowledged there was less time to make a decision whether he will still be playing captain of Europe's Seve Trophy team at The Wynard in England in September, however.
"I'm giving myself a bit of time, but I am aware of how important it is for the people of Wynard and Newcastle to know if I am going to be playing in the Trophy myself."
