Native American Notah Begay continued the form which has won him his last two US Tour events with an opening 65 at Loch Lomond yesterday. Eagerly awaiting his first British Open next week at St Andrews, the 27-year-old took a share of the lead with Retief Goosen, the South African who still holds the course record with his 63 of three years ago.
Former winner and former British Open champion Tom Lehman was tucked in just a stroke behind Begay and Goosen, along with Australians Adam Scott and Stephen Allan.
Defending champion Colin Montgomerie and world number two David Duval, playing the course blind after arriving from Ireland only on Tuesday night, had to settle for one-under-par rounds of 70.
Scott, the 19-year-old playing just his fourth professional event, partnered Lehman and Nick Faldo, and the Englishman took another step along the comeback trail with a 67.
Begay, a former college and Walker Cup team-mate of Tiger Woods, spent seven nights in jail earlier this year for drink driving.
He was referred by the US Tour to an alcohol counsellor and, to his great relief, was told that in her opinion he was not alcoholic.
"That made me feel better because I wasn't wanting to think I was in denial - I wanted someone in the field to give me an educated opinion," he said.
On top of the sentence he was ordered not to drink for a year - anywhere in the world.
Begay, who two years ago had a round of 59 on the US mini-tour before graduating to the main circuit, has risen to 24th in the world on the back on his recent victories in Memphis and Connecticut.
The 27-year-old continued that fabulous run today by reaching seven under before bogeying the last.
Highlight was a three-wood to 20 feet for an eagle at the 505-yard third. It was the spark that sent him to a best-of-the-day 31 on the front nine.
"More often than not the guy leading the first day doesn't win the tournament, so I don't want to get too happy."
Scott, the young Queenslander, already has three top 10 finishes on the European Tour to his name - two as an amateur, one as a pro at the Irish Open at Ballybunion two weeks ago - but is not in next week's British Open yet.
He arrived at Loch Lomond from Renfrew, where he equalled the course record in the regional qualifying competition with a 65 on Monday.
That put him through to the cut-throat final qualifying on Sunday and Monday - 480 players for around 40 places - but he will go straight to St Andrews if he can win this Saturday.
