Rumford recovers from opening shot shock
Australian Brett Rumford put a sickening incident out of his mind to take the first-round lead at the Omega European Masters – the first qualifying event for Europe’s Ryder Cup side – in Switzerland today.
Rumford, winner of the title in 2007, hit a lady spectator just above the eye with his opening drive.
While she was taken away for treatment with blood streaming down her face, the 32-year-old from Perth, who was told about the incident and anxious to find out about the spectator’s condition, dropped shots on the fourth and fifth holes.
But then came a remarkable turnaround. Rumford played the remaining 13 holes in 11 under par, with an eagle two on the driveable seventh, birdies at the sixth and ninth and then an inward 28 containing seven more birdies.
His 62 would have equalled the Crans-sur-Sierre course record but for the fact that placing of the ball was allowed on the wet fairways.
“I got off to a shaky start in more ways than one,” said Rumford, who leads by one from England’s Simon Dyson, winner of the KLM Open in Holland two weeks ago.
“It was not nice. You feel really bad for the lady, but there’s really nothing you can do.
“I’ve not spoken to her yet and I didn’t even see her at the time. It was her eyebrow I’m told – if it had been her temple a couple of inches away it could have been really bad.”
As for what followed, he added: “I’ve no idea where that came off. When I won here I played great golf, but today I just got my putter running.”
Dyson was delighted at waiting only 11 days to repeat the closing 63 which led to his second Dutch Open victory in four years.
The 31-year-old from York outshone not only four members of Nick Faldo’s side - Miguel Angel Jimenez shot 65, Graeme McDowell 68, Oliver Wilson 70 and Lee Westwood a level par 71 – but also Rory McIlroy.
The 20-year-old will go top of the European money list with victory on Sunday and when he followed an opening birdie by holing his 104-yard wedge to the second for an eagle two it looked as if he might even improve on his first round 63 last year.
But McIlroy picked up only one more shot and so signed for a 67.
Westwood, joint third with McIlroy in the US PGA last time out, was not surprised he did not come out of the blocks faster.
He spent the last two weeks on holiday in Portugal and said: “I played like somebody who had just nine holes one week and nine holes the next.
“I didn’t get back to the races, but I hit a lot of good shots that didn’t get rewarded.”
The fan hit by Rumford was released after having stitches, but was advised to have a check-up with her doctor tomorrow.
