Broadhurst and Bjorn go head to head

Paul Broadhurst and Thomas Bjorn found themselves going head-to-head at Gleneagles today as they resumed their bids to return to Ryder Cup action.

Broadhurst, who has not represented Europe since 1991 and has climbed all the way back from losing his tour card just five years ago, lies ninth in the points race with just 10 more weeks to go after this one.

Bjorn, a member of the 1997 and 2002 sides, is 15th following his Irish Open victory a month ago.

That was achieved in stormy weather and that is how it was again for the start of the Johnnie Walker Championship.

The eve-of-tournament pro-am had to be abandoned because of gales and the wind was still gusting to 25mph when the first round kicked off.

That, however, did not prevent Bjorn grabbing three birdies in his first four holes to take a one-shot lead over England’s Phil Golding and Swede Fredrik Henge. After a bogey and a birdie Broadhurst was level par.

Centre of attention, of course, was Colin Montgomerie after the double bogey finish that cost him US Open glory on Sunday, but he was among the later starters.

Montgomerie, who now has a record five second-place finishes and no wins in majors, was paired with England’s Kenneth Ferrie, sixth at Winged Foot after sharing the lead with a round to go, and also Frenchman Jean Van de Velde, whose Carnoustie blunder in 1999 remains the thing for which he is best remembered - and probably always will be.