Ross Fisher is relieved to see the hard work pay off at the 2021 Hero Open after carding a flawless 65 in the first round.
The 40-year-old has recorded only one top ten finish in the 2021 Race to Dubai - at the Made in HimmerLand presented by FREJA in May - and has made just one cut in his last five European Tour events.
But Fisher returned to form at Fairmont St Andrews by carding a bogey free 65 in his first round to sit two shots adrift of leader Calum Hill, who set a new course record.
Fisher worked his way up the leaderboard when he holed a 12 foot putt at the third before adding another birdie from similar range at the fifth.
He produced a fine par save at the sixth after driving his tee shot into the fairway bunker and was inches from holing out for an eagle at the next to get to three under.
Nice solid opener @EuropeanTour . Took advantage of the nicer conditions, game felt sharp. Nice rest before going again tomorrow 👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/j1fvxSmxyb
— Ross Fisher (@RossFisher) August 5, 2021
Fisher reached the turn in 32 thanks to a gain at the ninth but had to wait until 14th hole to improve his score, where he carded back to back birdies, before picking up his seventh shot of the day at the last.
The five time European Tour winner admitted that "frustration was building up" due to his poor recent form but Fisher, who was part of the successful 2010 Ryder Cup team, was happy with his opening day's work.
"Solid play. I drove it nicely off the tee. I hit it in one fairway bunker but fortunately that was on a par five and I managed to get up and down for a five," Fisher said.
"Steady golf, gave myself plenty of looks at birdie and managed to hole a few putts, which is nice.
"I did hear someone say you want an early-late. Looking at the forecast, we’ll get the better of the weather. But in Scotland in this little corner it can miss you.
"The forecast for the rest of the week doesn’t look too promising, but hopefully that’ll change. I’m delighted to go out and shoot a nice bogey-free seven under.
"(My form) has been frustrating. I missed a cut from nowhere in Germany after starting nicely. Ireland, I played well but missed that.
"Frustration was building up. I knew I was working on the right things, practising hard, working on the short game, the putter has been the Achilles heel that has let me down the last few years - quite streaky. Nice to see the hard work paying off."
