European Tour rookie David Dixon upstaged the more fancied competitors when a six under par 66 gave the 26 year old Englishman the lead after the first round of the Benson and Hedges International Open at The De Vere Belfry.
Dixon, who came through the Qualifying School at the end of last season and whose best finish to date on The European Tour International Schedule was a tie for 14th place in the Qatar Masters in March, led the way by a shot from Ireland’s Padraig Harrington with defending champion Angel Cabrera and the 2001 winner Henrik Stenson a further shot adrift after their respective 68s.
Dixon was helped on his way to pole position by two eagle threes in his round. Having started at the tenth hole, the first came at the 545 yard 15th and he added another at the 538 yard third for good measure.
But the man who finished leading amateur in the Open Golf Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2001 saved the best for last, firing a superb nine iron to within a foot of the hole at the ninth for a closing birdie three.
“My caddie suggested an eight iron but the nerves were jangling a little bit so I decided on a full nine and hit it just perfectly, I actually thought it was going in, but it was a nice way to finish,” said Dixon.
There were a lot of guys from my home club, Enmore Park, around the green whooping and hollering at that shot. It sounded like there were about a thousand of them at times, but I think realistically it was about ten to 15.
“This is fantastic. I have often wondered what it would feel like to lead a tournament and here I am and it is pretty good and I will just try and see if I can build from here for the rest of the tournament.
“I only got into the tournament late on Sunday night through the Re-Rank of the Category 11 players and here I am living the dream. I used to come and watch this tournament all the time so it is wonderful to at last get the chance to be on the other side of the ropes.”
Second placed Harrington bogeyed the second hole but immediately set about righting matters with an eagle of his own at the third, his sand wedge approach from 91 yards taking one bounce before dropping into the hole.
The 31 year old Dubliner then birdied the seventh before rolling in a 45 footer for a birdie three on the ninth to be out in 33. He then birdied the 12th before pitching stone dead at the 15th for his final birdie of the day to be home in 34 for 67.
“I was a little uncertain coming into this week and I had been cramming in a lot of practice which does tend to affect your actual rhythm and flow on the golf course,” he said.
"But I am very happy with the way I played and I don’t think it could have been a lot better. I do believe in horses for courses and I do like the golf course and seem to play well here. If I’m in contention come the final few holes on Sunday, then you never know.”
Cabrera, aiming to become the only player in history to win the Benson and Hedges International Open, which ends this year, twice in succession, had a rollercoaster round.
The 33 year old Argentine started with a bogey at the first hole and also included a double bogey five at the 12th in his opening effort. But those were the only down sides to his round and five birdies elsewhere added to an eagle three at the 15th, saw him post a respectable 68.
Stenson, who completed a wire-to-wire victory in 2001 the year after he topped the Challenge Tour Rankings, moved to four under par after 15 flawless holes. He dropped his first shot of the day at the 16th but ensured that dinner tasted a bit better with a birdie three at the 18th for his 68 to join Cabrera.
