Player power leads to Gleneagles green change

European Tour players breathed a sigh of relief this morning after it was decided to change one of the holes for the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

A number of players made complaints to officials about the new seventh green on the PGA Centenary Course, which will stage the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Before the first round tournament director David Williams announced: “After careful consideration it has been decided to revert to the original green.” This reduces the length of the hole from 468 yards to 419.

Williams said of the new green: “Due to its infancy the playing surface has not quite reached the quality and consistency of the other greens.

“Gleneagles have maintained the original green to the usual excellent standard, so the decision was taken to ensure consistency throughout the course. The European Tour very much look forward to playing the new green from 2006.”

Play began in blustery conditions and after 90 minutes nobody was better was one under par.

The lead at that point was shared by eight players – Italian Emanuele Canonica, Dutchman Rolf Muntz, Scots Chris Kelly and Scott Henderson, English trio Ben Mason, Graeme Storm and David Lynn and Dane Anders Hansen.

Title favourite – and tournament chairman – Colin Montgomerie, needing a top-two finish to lead the European Order of Merit for the first time since his seven-year reign there ended in 1999, opened with four pars on the back nine.