McGinley shares early lead

Ireland’s Paul McGinley today made a good start in his last-ditch bid to qualify for the Open Championship when the Barclays Scottish Open finally got under way.

Heavy rain overnight and this morning forced a 90-minute delay at Loch Lomond, play eventually beginning at 9am in damp, overcast conditions.

McGinley was among the early starters as he sought a top-five finish necessary to make it to Royal Birkdale next week – Ryder Cup team-mate Darren Clarke is also in the same position – and picked up a birdie on the third to claim a share of the early lead.

Also on one under par was England’s Nick Dougherty and Wales’ Bradley Dredge, while Ryder Cup stars Lee Westwood and Colin Montgomerie – playing together - were level par after two holes.

Three of the world’s top six are competing for the £500,000 first prize, but world number two Phil Mickelson and number six Ernie Els were among the later starters whose start had been put back by 80 minutes following the rain.

World number three Adam Scott had just started his round and the Australian got off to a terrible start, running up a triple-bogey seven on the 10th to slump to last place.