Nilsson hopes to cash in on good start
Swedish rookie Christian Nilsson is keen to raise his profile – and keep his bank manager happy in the process.
Nilsson heads into the second round of the Portuguese Open with renewed confidence after opening with a 65, seven under par. That left him one behind the leader Paul Broadhurst and well in contention.
Nilsson said: “I have had a bad start to the season so I have to make a few cuts and get some money in the bank. I am beginning to play better, which I think I showed in the opening round here.
“I played great golf in the first nine and did not miss a shot, but on the way back in I finished up in the rough a couple of times. It is so thick in places you can drop shots easily from there.”
Nilsson employs the same coach as women’s world number one Annika Sorenstam - Henri Reis.
“We meet up when we are both at home and he means a lot to me,” said Nilsson, who came through the 2005 qualifying school. “He is a great guy.”
Broadhurst took time out after equalling the course record of 64 at Le Meridien to thank veteran Scottish coach Bob Torrance.
The defending champion’s return to form coincided with a visit to Torrance last week.
He felt he needed good advice about his poor form after missing the halfway cuts in the TCL Classic and the Singapore Masters.
Broadhurst said: “Bob is certainly not into the modern-day swing. He uses Ben Hogan as his case study and that is right for me. He is not over technical and it is more about feel.
“I am no good at trying to put the club in certain places. It has to be flowing and I have to understand what I am doing. I have to work with what I have got and as long as I stick to certain guidelines I am okay.”
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