Ferguson at front of chasing Scots pack

Ewen Ferguson spearheaded the Scottish challenge at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship with an opening round of 65 at St Andrews. The 26-year-old, who finished his round with a bogey on the Road Hole and a brilliant birdie on 18, was satisfied with his efforts, which left him six shots off the top of the leaderboard.

“I’m happy,” he said. “I didn't feel like my swing was totally with me but I felt some course knowledge helped. I had an unlucky bogey on 17 where I missed a five- six-footer for par.

"I felt I was due a putt and it was nice to make one on the 18th at the Old Course.”

Ferguson faces a challenge at Carnoustie today, with the bad weather forecast resulting in a 8.30am shotgun start. “If the weather is going to be tough, it's going to be tough everywhere,” he said. “If I can keep my head together and shoot even par, it shouldn't be disastrous.”

Three Scots – including David Law, Connor Syme and Robert MacIntyre – are clustered together on four-under, with Stephen Gallacher on three under and Grant Forrest and Richie Ramsay one stroke further back.