Day one digest: Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters

Here is everything you need to know from an exciting first round at Real Club Valderrama.

You could count the number of players who posted an under par score on one hand as the wind caused real problems on day one of the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters.

Here is everything you need to know from an exciting first round at Real Club Valderrama.

It's not how you start, it's how you finish

Morning starter Connor Syme reached the turn in 37 after sandwiching his only front nine birdie between a double bogey on the short third and a bogey at the ninth. He recovered in style, though, following up a birdie at the par three 12th with a hat-trick of gains on the final three holes to grab a share of the first round lead alongside Jorge Campillo, John Catlin and Guido Migliozzi on two under par.

'Brutal' conditions level the playing field

During a mid-round interview, English Championship winner Andy Sullivan was extremely honest about how the wind was affecting things out on course. He said "if you didn’t laugh you’d break down and cry, it’s that hard"...

Breaking par proves a big challenge

With the wind causing problems across the entire day, only five players were able to post under par rounds on day one, with Spaniard Pep Angles joining the co-leaders in the red numbers.

Golf for Good continues

The European Tour's Golf for Good initiative continues this week after a hugely successful UK Swing. For every birdie and eagle on the 17th hole this week, the European Tour will be donating €500 and €1,500 respectively to Real Club Valderrama, with the money being distributed between four local charities. On Thursday a total of 49 birdies and eight eagles were made. That's a whopping €36,500 raised already.

Home favourite Campillo shines

Spain's Campillo had co-led for much of the morning after making three birdies and no bogeys on the front nine but when he dropped his first shot of the day at the 13th, he slipped off the top of the leaderboard. The two time European Tour champion bounced straight back with a long putt for birdie on the 14th before narrowly missing his ambitious birdie try from 55 feet at the next. After finding the water on the long 17th, Campillo just missed his par putt to return to two under and he did well not to drop another at the last after getting into tree trouble, with a solid two putt from range taking him into the clubhouse with a share of the lead.

His efforts would usually be greeted with huge cheers from the locals but with just a few fans out on the course, he had to settle for a smattering of applause. He said: "It’s quite different really. I live close to here so normally I have people coming to watch so it was a strange feeling today but it is what it is, at least we have one or two people and hopefully things can get better from here."