Sandelin makes strong start
Jarmo Sandelin, a former Ryder Cup player now engaged in an annual struggle to keep his card, today made a flying start to the Dunhill Links Championship.
Sandelin has won five European Tour titles, including two in 1999 which secured his place on the European team at Brookline, where he played only in the final day singles.
The 41-year-old has struggled to reproduce such form in recent years however, losing his card in 2005 before regaining it at the qualifying school, and taking the 117th and final card in 2007 by just £61.
With just four events remaining this season, including this week, Sandelin is currently 125th on the Order of Merit with just the top 115 guaranteed to retain their playing rights for next year.
But the extrovert Swede could end any money worries with a good finish in Scotland and two birdies and an eagle in his first four holes was an ideal start.
Sandelin was playing at Kingsbarns – Carnoustie and St Andrews are the other two courses used for the pro-am event – and birdied the first and fourth and picked up his eagle at the third.
At four under par, he had a one-shot lead over England's Ross Fisher, who was also at Kingsbarns but had started on the back nine and birdied the 11th and eagled the 12th.
