Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee produced a superb recovery from a shaky start to take the clubhouse lead at the end of the first morning’s play in The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond Golf Club.
The World Number 153, whose second of two titles on The European Tour came at the Malaysian Open back in 2005, opened in inauspicious fashion with a bogey five on the second, but he quickly recovered to post a seven under par score of 64.
Jaidee's recovery started with four birdies on the third, fourth, fifth and sixth holes, before he claimed a birdie three on the ninth to go out in 32. He then picked up shots at the 13th, 17th and 18th to move into a one stroke lead over the 2007 US Open Champion Angel Cabrera.
The Argentine, who started on the back nine after rain delays earlier in the morning, made his mark by collecting a birdie three on the 415 yard 12th hole, before picking up shots on the 15th and 17th.
Further birdies followed on the third and sixth - both holes are par five - while a birdie three on the seventh brought him to six under par.
Sweden’s Niclas Fasth hit a bogey-free round of 66 to take third place alongside England's John Bickerton, while Fasth's countryman Martin Erlandsson is tied in fourth on four under par with Lee Westwood and Pablo Martin, who came into the event ranked World Number 293. The Spaniard shot seven birdies and three bogeys en route to posting a score of 67.
Elsewhere, Colin Montgomerie is tied for 13th with Ian Poulter, defending champion Grégory Havret and nine others on two under par, while World Number Three Adam Scott is tied for 67th on one over par.
World Number Two Phil Mickelson and World Number Six Ernie Els are among the afternoon starters.
