Green eases to Scottish Open lead

FIRST ROUND SCORES: GB & Ire unless stated
-7 R Green (Aus) -6 G Fernandez-Castano (Spa), M Laird, P McGinley, G Storm -5 A Scott (Aus)
Selected others: -3 R McIlroy -2 A Cabrera (Arg), D Clarke, J Daly (US), E Els (SA), R Fisher, G Ogilvy (Aus), I Poulter -1 G McDowell Level N Faldo, JM Olazabal (Spa) +2 L Westwood, C Montgomerie

Australia's Richard Green hit a superb first-round 64 to lead a top-class Scottish Open field at Loch Lomond.

The left-hander, who finished tied third at the tournament in 2008, made six birdies and an eagle on Thursday to set the pace at seven under.

England's Graeme Storm, US-based Scot Martin Laird, Ireland's Paul McGinley and Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano were tied second, one shot adrift.

Rory McIlroy shot 68, Ian Poulter hit 69, but Lee Westwood struggled to a 73.

England's Westwood was struggling with a chest infection and said he was "stupid" to have teed off, while Ernie Els, Darren Clarke, Masters champion Angel Cabrera and Australian Geoff Oglivy all shot 69 for two under.

Northern Ireland's defending champion Graeme McDowell carded 70, while former Masters winner Jose Maria Olazabal went round in level-par 71 as he bids to secure a spot at the Open next week.

The Spaniard has yet to qualify and needs to finish as the highest player on the leaderboard not already exempt in order to book a place at Turnberry.

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Former European Ryder Cup captain Sir Nick Faldo, playing in his first tournament of the year as he gears up to return to the Open next week, and colourful American Boo Weekley also carded rounds of 71.

First-round leader, Green, ranked 90th in the world, has struggled this year with five missed cuts in 11 appearances but seems to be hitting form at the right time.

"There have been a lot of opportunities for me where I've not handled the pressure as well as I would have liked, but the more I put myself there, the more I feel I can do it," he said.

"It was a great round of golf, I was very much under control.

"I love this place. I remember the first time I came here in 1996, I finished joint sixth. Today was very easy for us and it seemed very easy for me."

Former British amateur champion Storm attributed his form to a fitness regime that was triggered by being told he was too fat.

"I went for an assessment and some of the results were not very nice," said the 2007 French Open champion.

"I had a scan for body fat. I'm not going to tell you what the result was but it was not very good.

"Then obviously you look at the world number one (Tiger Woods) and he is the fittest guy around."

European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie could only manage a two-over 73, while England's Oliver Wilson was three over after a 74

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