Price chasing huge pay-out

Three birdies in his first four holes put Welsh Ryder Cup star Phillip Price into the driving seat in the Smurfit European Open at the K Club near Dublin today.

Price, going for a £333,330 (€484,000) first prize that is even more than he earned for finishing second to Tiger Woods at the 2000 NEC World Championship in Akron, sank putts of 18, six and 12 feet to reach 12 under par.