Thomas Bjorn may be a long way from making people forget about the way he lost the 2003 British Open. But his tremendous start to the 2011 British Open is at least a good start to another run at the Claret Jug.
2011 British Open Leaderboard Results: Thomas Bjorn Claims Lead With Stellar First Round
Bjorn fired a 5-under 65 on the Royal St. George's course on Thursday, putting in seven birdies against one bogey, dominating the 2011 British Open leaderboard, and taking a two-shot lead over Stewart Cink and Miguel Angel Jimenez to the clubhouse. Bjorn struck the ball well in windy conditions, and putted nearly as well, especially on the back nine, where three straight birdies (four in five holes) sent his first round deep into red numbers.
A poor approach on the 18th hole scuttled Bjorn’s chances of a record-tying 63, which would have been the second first round 63 at the Open Championship in as many years after Rory McIlroy’s 9-under 63 at St. Andrews in 2010.
Bjorn atoned for the sins of the past at the 16th hole. He birdied it on Thursday after a miserable experience in a bunker on the hole in 2003 erased a two-shot lead; that calamity eventually led to Ben Curtis earning that Open Championship’s ultimate prize.
Bjorn is no stranger to low scores in a major. His 7-under 63 in the third round of the 2005 PGA Championship tied him with a slew of other players for the lowest score in a major championship. But Bjorn’s competitive numbers at majors — he has six top-10 finishes at majors in his career, though none since 2005, and three second-place efforts — have not quite translated to wins.
Perhaps this year will be the great Dane’s first conversion.
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