Tunnicliff storms into second spot

England’s Miles Tunnicliff today became the fifth player to shoot a course record 63 in the Portuguese Open at Oitavos Dunes to come from 40th place to one off the lead.

The 39-year-old got within a shot of Gregory Bourdy when the Frenchman, without a bogey in his first 39 holes, dropped a stroke on the 354-yard fourth to slip to 13 under par.

Marbella-based Tunnicliff equalled the lowest round of his European Tour career by chipping in for eagle on the long seventh and sinking six birdie putts.

They were all crammed into the first 13 holes and, needing to pick up one more shot to set a new mark for the lay-out, he missed from eight feet at the long 16th and parred in.

The two-time Tour winner admits he has struggled after making such a start in the past.

“I would not say I thrive on it, but I’ve been trying to be a bit more positive,” he stated.

“I’m doing it on my own. I’ve had three or four psychologists and I don’t think there are any left now. I think they have taught me all they can teach me.

“It would be big to win again, especially coming up to 40. It’s been a long time.”

His last success was at Gleneagles in Scotland four years ago.

His was a classic example of what a difference a week can make. Nine days ago Tunnicliff began the Andalucian Open by four-putting his first hole, whereas this time he pitched in for an eagle and did it again only three holes later.

With Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, second at halfway, bogeying the fourth and fifth the door was left open for countless others to move into contention.

Defending champion Pablo Martin, who last year became the first amateur to win a Tour event, hit back from an opening bogey with four birdies in the next seven holes.

That lifted him to 11 under, only two behind and into joint third place with English trio Lee Slattery, Simon Khan and Simon Dyson and Ireland’s Damien McGrane. Slattery matched Tunnicliff’s eagle on the seventh.

David Howell, trying to put a slump behind him and employing a new coach this week, turned in 33 to be 10 under, while Ryder Cup team-mates Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke were nine under and six under respectively.