Joakim Lagergren leads opening round at DP World Tour's South African Open

The stage for Lagergren's imprssive showing was set at the Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate, boasting a remarkable length of 8,233 yards, making it the longest course in DP World Tour history.

Lagergren's flawless performance included seven birdies, propelling him to a one-shot lead with a scorecard reading 65. Reflecting on his stellar round, Lagergren remarked, "Golf was fun today. It is a tough course, it's long, so to shoot seven under round here, I'm very pleased with that."

Hot on Lagergren's heels is South Africa's Casey Jarvis, who delivered a strong showing with a score of 66. Meanwhile, the trio of Jovan Rebula, Louis de Jager from South Africa, and England's Andy Sullivan find themselves in a promising position at five under.

The challenging nature of the course was evident, with Lagergren noting, "We had a par-three today which played 240 metres (262 yards) which I'm not sure if I've experienced before." Despite the course's demanding features, Lagergren's exceptional performance showcased his mastery of the game.

Sullivan, a former Ryder Cup player, navigated the course with finesse, expressing, "It's a course that doesn't particularly suit me, I'm not one of the longest hitters on Tour, so the start was a little unexpected." Despite facing challenges on the back nine, Sullivan's overall performance at five under was commendable.

Defending champion Thriston Lawrence posted an opening round of 70, seeking to reclaim his title after a challenging previous week. Zander Lombard overcame an early setback, recovering from a triple-bogey eight on the first hole to finish the round with a respectable 71.

As Lagergren leads the pack with his solid opening round, the Investec South African Open promises an exciting competition on the longest course in DP World Tour history. Golf enthusiasts can expect thrilling performances as the tournament unfolds on this challenging course.

 

Read More: Luke Donald humbled by players' support for his return as Ryder Cup captain (planetsport.com)