Walters out in front at Joburg Open
Justin Walters leads by one shot after Thursday's first round of the Joburg Open thanks to a seven-under-par 65.
The tournament is being played over the East and West Courses of the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club, and Walters carded his round on the East course.
Players play a round on each course ahead of the cut, after which the final 36 holes are played on the East Course.
Walters leads a bunch of six players on six under, divided equally between the two courses.
After carding too many bogeys in a round at last week's South African Open, a frustrated Walters called it a ‘typical Justin Walters round’.
“Today was a little bit more of what I’m not used to, not as many bogeys and I kept the birdies which is nice,” he said. “It’s always nice to keep the mistakes off the card, because those birdies, they count.”
Despite his typical round last week, he still finished in a share of fourth in the SA Open, and he was thrilled to take some of that form into this tournament.
“I had a really good week last week and I really wanted to build on that coming into this week and keep the form going, and to be leading so far and to be in a good position, I’m so happy,” he said.
Behind the six in a share of second – Mark Williams of Zimbabwe, the English duo of Anthony Wall and David Howell, Michael Jonzon and Johan Carlsson of Sweden, and the South African youngster Haydn Porteous – was another large group of eight players on five-under-par, making things very congested at the top of the leaderboard.
“Both courses, if you play well offers a lot of birdies and generally out of a 200-man field you’re going to 30 or 40 guys that are going to play a good round of golf,” said Walters. “It’s really hard to separate yourself on these two courses, so I expect more of the same over the week.”
Amongst the players on five-under was Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who was runner-up to Brandon Stone in the SA Open. And, in Stone’s group, four-time major champion Ernie Els carded a one-under-par while the newly-crowned national champion went three-under.
Latest
-
NewsSteve Stricker makes Padraig Harrington sweat as Irishman wins US Senior Open
The pair were rival captains in last year’s Ryder Cup in Wisconsin.
-
NewsGolfers warned of further sanctions if they continue to play in LIV breakaway
The DP World Tour has issued fines of £100,000 and tournament bans to its members who played in the inaugural LIV Golf event earlier this month
-
European TourDP World Tour hits members who played inaugural LIV series with £100,000 fines
They have also been banned from several forthcoming tournaments including the Scottish Open.
-
NewsRory McIlroy not impressed as Brooks Koepka becomes latest big name to join LIV
The world number two labelled the players who have joined the new series as “duplicitous” for the way they have handled their breakaway.
-
The OpenR&A confirms LIV Golf Series players will be allowed to compete at Open
The 150th Open Championship will get underway at St Andrews in three weeks’ time.
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick turns to other major winners for advice on dealing with fame
Fitzpatrick won the US Open on Sunday.
-
NewsBrooks Koepka set to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series
Koepka’s brother Chase played in the opening event at Centurion Club earlier this month.
-
US OpenGary Player urges Matt Fitzpatrick to avoid ‘poison’ of modern-day coaching
Player tells US Open champion Fitzpatrick to learn from mistakes of recent major winners, saying: “The teaching today is the worst it has ever been.”
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick’s caddie Billy Foster ready for ‘long party’ after US Open win
Foster won his first major after a 40-year career which includes spells working for the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick backed to become a dominant force after winning first major
The Englishman claimed his first major title at Brookline.