In-form McGrane shoots 65 at favourite course

Damien McGrane found one of the shortest routes around the shortest course on this year’s European Tour schedule to be trailing the leader by just one stroke on the first day of the KLM Open at Kennemer Golf Club, Zandvoort, the Netherlands.

McGrane holed a 25-foot putt for eagle at the 12th and grabbed five birdies in a five-under-par 65 in what was his lowest round this season.

Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, who won the event nine years ago, leads on six under par with McGrane among six right on the tail of the Spaniard. Already the oldest winner in European Tour history, Jimenez could improve his own record. Jimenez, who broke his leg in a skiing accident last December shortly after winning the Hong Kong Open aged 48 and 318 days, fired eight birdies and two bogeys to card an opening 64.