Lahiri gives up early gains in first round

India’s Anirban Lahiri continued his European journey in style after registering an even par score through 13 holes in the first round of the Scottish Open, here today.
Lahiri, 28, one of the four multiple winners on European Tour this season, had four birdies against two bogeys on front nine and then parred the next three holes before succumbing to a double bogey.
The other two Indians at the Gullane Golf Club, Jeev Milkha Singh (two-over after eight holes) and Shiv Kapur (one -under through four holes) are also in the fray.
Lahiri, winner of Malaysian Open and Hero Indian Open this season, birdied second and third and then added a third birdie on fifth. But he dropped a shot on fifth that pushed him down. He, however, quickly made up with a birdie on eighth only to give it up on the ninth.
Also at even par after 14 holes were Phil Mickelson and Victor Dubuisson.
The early leader was Thorbjrn Olesen, who carded a flawless seven-under par 63 to get off to a stunning start. The Dane posted seven birdies, the last of them coming from 30 feet on the 17th, to hold a two shot clubhouse advantage over England’s Matthew Nixon, Spain’s Adrian Otaegui and American Jimmy Walker.
Olesen lost a play-off for the Mauritius Open in May after three months on the sidelines due to surgery on a hand injury.
Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell enjoyed a welcome return to form before bogeying the last two holes to fall into a tie for fifth on four-under, with Ryder Cup opponents Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar alongside him.
Defending champion Justin Rose was among the later starters alongside five-time Major winner Phil Mickelson and Scotland’s Marc Warren, who was joint third behind Rose at Royal Aberdeen 12 months ago.