Friday 29 September 2017 10:12, UK
Tyrrell Hatton produced a stunning finish to earn a share of the lead with George Coetzee after a low-scoring first round of the British Masters supported by Sky Sports.
Over half of the star-studded 132-man field broke the par of 70 in glorious conditions at Close House, with Hatton and Coetzee ending the day tied at the top after firing seven-under 63s.
Rory McIlroy enjoyed a positive start as he carded a solid 67, while tournament host Lee Westwood, 2015 host Ian Poulter and 2015 champion Matt Fitzpatrick were all a shot closer to the leaders, but Sergio Garcia endured an erratic back-nine in a 70.
Alvaro Quiros made a welcome return to form and got to seven under with birdies at 16 and 17, but the big-hitting Spaniard flew the green with his tee shot to the last and failed to get up and down, although his 64 was enough to set the early clubhouse target.
Quiros was finally surpassed by Coetzee, who got off to a flying start when he birdied the first two holes and then added an eagle at the long sixth, one of only three threes on the 497-yard par-five on the day.
The South African looked poised to have the outright lead overnight until Hatton responded to a bogey at the 11th with a remarkable run of five birdies over the last seven holes, capping a superb effort with a rare two at the final hole.
England's Chris Hanson opened with five birdies over the first seven holes but struggled to maintain his birdie blitz as he returned an encouraging 64 to join Quiros on six under, with Swede Rikard Karlberg and Finnish pair Mikko Ilonen and Mikko Korhonen also moving into a share of second place.
The strong English presence at the top end of the leaderboard was enhanced by Lee Slattery, Graeme Storm and Ashley Chesters, who all carded 65s to move one ahead of Ryder Cup stars Westwood, Poulter, Fitzpatrick and Graeme McDowell.
Westwood defied the pressures and distractions of being the tournament host as he plotted his way meticulously around his home course and made four birdies while keeping a bogey off his card, while Poulter hit back from a bogey at the first with three birdies over the next five holes.
McDowell gave himself a great chance to earn a share of the lead when he picked up four shots in six holes on the back nine to get to six under, but the 2010 US Open champion then four-putted the final green.
McIlroy, who will take an extended break from competitive golf after next week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, looked in great touch as he mixed four birdies with just one dropped shot in his 67, a score matched by English stalwarts Chris Wood and Ross Fisher.
But Garcia has ground to make up after following a faultless, outward 33 with a frustrating run after the turn, dropping shots at the 10th and 12th before getting them both back with an eagle at the 13th.
The Masters champion then made a mess of the 14th and stumbled to a double-bogey six and, after he clawed one shot back with a birdie at 15, he blocked his final tee shot into a greenside bunker and took three to get down as he slipped seven strokes off the pace.
