Brandon Robinson-Thompson had threatened to card the second 59 in European tour history before a disappointing finale, but he still claimed a three-shot lead after the opening round at the Bahrain Championship.
Two eagles and three birdies took Englishman Robinson-Thompson to the turn in 29 at Royal Golf Club and a run of five birdies in six holes from the 12th left him needing to birdie the last to break the 60 barrier.
But after missing the fairway and the green on the 443-yard par four, the 32-year-old then dropped his only shot of the day and had to settle for an 11-under-par 61, still a course record.
“I didn’t really picture it this morning when it was raining and there was a forecast for super strong winds, so very happy to get off to the start that I did,” Robinson-Thompson said.
“A little bit of a sour taste in my mouth (with the bogey on 18), I’m not going to lie, but I holed my fair share.”
Asked when he first thought about matching Oliver Fisher’s 59 in the 2018 Portugal Masters, Robinson-Thompson added: “After about nine holes, and then I hit it to four feet on 10.
“Unfortunately, I missed that one but it was just an accumulation of a lot of good decision-making and execution.
“I wouldn’t say it was perfect by a long way, but I was smart when I had to be and hit a couple of shots to 25, 30, 35 feet and luckily made a couple of those.
“I think it’s my lowest round as a professional, let alone on the DP World Tour, so it has to be up there as first or second (career-best), apart from maybe a Sunday to close out a Challenge Tour event last year.”
Fellow Englishman Callum Tarren was Robinson-Thompson’s nearest challenger on eight under par following a bogey-free 64, with Scotland’s Richie Ramsay, France’s Martin Couvra and Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen all on six under.
Australian pair Jason Scrivener and David Micheluzzi, who’ve both enjoyed good starts to their European tour seasons, had soild opening rounds of three-under 69 to sit tied for 23rd, eight off Robinson-Thompson’s pace.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/golf/england-golfer-robinson-thompson-shoots-a-61-in-bahrain-c-17563039
