Malaysian Open - Day 1 Wrap

Briton Nick Dougherty shot a career-low 10-under-par 62 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the $2 million Malaysian Open on Thursday.

Dougherty fired seven straight birdies in his 10-birdie round to lead English compatriot Simon Dyson and Australian Marcus Fraser, who both shot eight-under-par 64s.

South Africa's Keith Horne, Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen, Malaysian Danny Chia and Argentina's Daniel Vancsik were tied for fourth a further stroke behind.

"It was a great start to the tournament, it's my lowest round on Tour which is always nice," said Dougherty, whose maiden European Tour victory was in Singapore in 2005.

"I played well, I drove the ball well, I putted really well. All in all it was a superb round of golf."

The Malaysian Open is the fifth leg of the Asian Tour and is co-sanctioned by the European Tour.

Low scores were the order of the day with 98 golfers shooting under par.

Dougherty expects a winning score of 18 under or better at the Kota Permai Golf Club and hopes to bag his third Tour title.

"Inevitably, I am not going to shoot three more 10 under pars but certainly I am in a good position," he said.

New Zealand's Mark Brown, aiming for a third straight title after wins at the SAIL Open and Johnnie Walker Classic, opened with a six-under 66 to lie eighth with eight other golfers.

Dunhill Links Championship - Dougherty Wins

This tournament is one of my personal favorite European Tour Events. If you haven't heard of it then I will explain it very quickly. The tournament is played at 3 different courses over the first three days with final round being played at the "home of golf," St. Andrews. There is basically two sides to the tournament

• Pros playing for themselves
• Pros also team up with an amateur
  

Teams of one professional and one amateur play one round each at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. It is a men's professional event, but women amateurs may enter. The leading 60 professionals make the cut to play in the final round, as do the leading 20 teams, whether or not the professional member of the team made the cut personally. (source Wikipedia)

In my opionion playing the tournamnet over 3 different courses really makes it interesting and even adding some celebrity amateur's doesn't seem to cheapen the event. It is the richest golf tournament on the european tour and the winner takes home $800000 US.

Congratulations to Nick Dougherty who won the event today to complete his second win on the tour.

Top 10 - Leaderboard

1	Nick Dougherty	ENG	-18	270	67	66	66	71	F
2	Justin Rose	ENG	-16	272	68	69	66	69	F
3	Rory McIlroy	IRL	-15	273	71	67	67	68	F
4	Paul Lawrie	SCO	-14	284	66	73	64	81	F
4	Barry Lane	ENG	-14	274	69	70	68	67	F
6	Ernie Els	SAF	-13	275	67	67	70	71	F
6	Trevor Immelman	SAF	-13	275	73	65	67	70	F
8	Soren Hansen	DEN	-12	276	66	70	71	69	F
8	Padraig Harrington	IRL	-12	276	70	66	67	73	F
10	Niclas Fasth	SWE	-11	277	67	70	67	73	F
10	Peter Hanson	SWE	-11	277	68	68	69	72	F
10	Paul Casey	ENG	-11	277	74	68	68	67	F
10	Scott Strange	AUS	-11	277	66	70	69	72	F
10	Anton Haig	SAF	-11	277	68	66	75	68	F