Ireland’s Shane Lowry equalled one of Nick Faldo’s records with a sizzling eight-under-par 62 at Sunningdale Old in the first round of Open Championship qualifying today.

The European Tour would have been no place for Tom Watson this week – the SAS Masters in Sweden is being played on the longest course in the circuit’s history.

Jose Maria Olazabal began the Open qualifier with a one-over-par 71 at Sunningdale Old today – and then talked about the possibility of taking another lengthy break from golf.