Gallacher in swing of things at Senior Open

Bernard Gallacher has underlined his winning credentials on the second day of the Senior British Open at Royal County Down, moving into a share of the lead before most of the field have had their breakfast.

The Scot, out on the course since just before 9 a.m. this morning, has taken advantage of the calm, early morning conditions and started with a birdie on the first hole, a 500-yard par five, to become joint leader at three-under par.

Gallacher is playing alongside Denis O’Sullivan, who shouldered much of the expectation for an Irish win before the tournament, and South African legend Gary Player.

Although Player and Gallacher clearly enjoyed the early start, both golfers picking up shots, O’Sullivan will be wishing he had stayed in bed after carding a nightmare nine on the third hole.

That moves the Corkman to ten-over par for the tournament and he needs a miracle recovery just to ensure he won’t miss the halfway cut.

Player, on the other hand, started with an eagle at the first followed by a birdie at the next to go to two-under, one shot off the lead.

Player, a winner of this tournament in 1997, and Gallacher will come under pressure at the top of the leaderboard when overnight leaders John Bland and Denis Durnian take to the course at lunchtime today.