Kneeds must for Smyth

A lack of practice proved perfect preparation for Ryder Cup vice captain Des Smyth in the opening round of the ISPS PGA Seniors Championship at Stoke by Nayland.

The Irishman negotiated the Gainsborough course at the Suffolk resort in five-under-par, his round of 66 putting him one stroke ahead of the field vying for a portion of the £235,000 prize fund.

And he did so having had next to no practice because of having to undergo surgery on a knee to resolve a cartilage problem.

“This was my first competitive round of the year and I only started playing about three weeks ago after my operation,” explained Smyth who, with Sam Torrance, is one of Paul McGinley’s vice captains for this year’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

“I played a few rounds in Spain but the weather hasn’t been that good at home so I haven’t been able to practise.”

Not that was apparent as he opened up with four birdies in the first five holes.

“I had a beautiful start, opening up with three successive birdies,” he added. “I was getting a bit nervous at that stage as I’d played my first three holes of the year in three-under-par! I have to say it was a lovely round of golf – I don’t know where it came from. I played beautifully.”

Evidence of that was apparent at the par four 10^th where Smyth chipped in for another birdie; likewise at the par three 18^th as he ended the round with a 25 foot putt to deny Denmark’s Steen Tinning a share of the lead.

** More images from day one at Stoke by Nayland here.

Tinning (above) had a similarly high-octane start as Smyth, also posting four birdies in the first five holes. But whereas Smyth mixed birdies with bogeys over the rest of the round, Tinning completed it in regulation.

“My putter went cold after the first few holes and the wind made things difficult,” he said. “The course is also a challenge but they (the greenkeepers) have done a fine job preparing it under difficult conditions.”

Tinning’s four-under left him one stroke clear of a cosmopolitan posse sharing third place – a nine-strong group that comprised golfers from five nations and included former Ryder Cup captain Mark James and George Ryall.

Ryall, who is attached to the Players Club, Bristol, ended the day as The PGA’s leading representative in the 120-strong field.

He was left to reflect on a bogey at the last which cost him a share of second place and two putts that got away.

“I missed two tiddlers,” he said, “But on the positive side, I got off to a good start and I like the course. There’s a couple of holes – eight and 10 – that were difficult today because of the wind. I favour playing right to left and the wind made them play left to right. But on the whole the course suits me, which is nice.”