Levet continues superb form

By Alistair Watkins
BBC Sport at Troon

Casey enjoys top spot

France's Thomas Levet continued his fantastic form as he joined Paul Casey at the top of the leaderboard thanks to a five-under 66 at Royal Troon.

Levet, who won last week's Scottish Open at Loch Lomond to qualify, showed a magical touch with the putter.

He carded four birdies, including three in a row from the fourth, to reach four under at the turn.

His first drop shot came at the 10th but he birdied the 11th and 17th to go back to the top of the leaderboard.

Levet, who hopes to improve on his second place at the 2002 Open in Muirfield, said his win at Loch Lomond had given him enormous confidence.

It's just a case of trying to stay patient and keep smiling Thomas Levet

"I am playing well and I know I can be there until the end so I will just try to stay the same in my approach," he said.

"When you play that well you don't feel the pressure because you know you are going to make chances.

"It's just a case of trying to stay patient and keep smiling."

Carl Pettersson was another European player to enjoy the conditions on the Ayrshire links.

The US-based Swede started with three straight birdies before rattling off seven pars.

The 26-year-old dropped a shot on the 11th but returned to three under with a birdie-four at the 16th.

Other European players fared less well.

Ryder Cup heroes Thomas Bjorn and Sergio Garcia endured disappointing starts, after struggling on the inward nine.

Bjorn, playing with Colin Montgomerie, began confidently, surging to three under after six holes.

But he saw five shots dwindle away in five holes from the seventh and he came home in 39 for a round of 74.

Garcia was one shot worse at four over, deflated by a run of three consecutive dropped strokes from the 12th before he made his one birdie of the day at 17.

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