Thorbjorn Olsen, a new dad, a new perspective and a flirt with 59 to lead Tenerife Open.. live scoreboard

 Tenerife Open 

Thorbjørn Olesen continued the blistering start to his 2021 Race to Dubai as a course record 62 handed him the first round lead at the Tenerife Open

The 31-year-old only played his first event of the season last week after suffering a wrist injury and then celebrating the birth of son Cooper earlier this month.

He showed few signs of rust as he carded a 61 en route to finishing fifth at the Gran Canaria Lopesan Open and brought that form with him to Golf Costa Adeje, carding ten birdies and a single dropped shot to get to nine under.

The in form duo of John Catlin and Garrick Higgo were a shot off the lead alongside Alexander Björk, with Dean Burmester also at eight under after arguably producing the round of the day in the more difficult afternoon conditions.

At nine under with four holes to play, Olesen had a chance at a 59 on a low scoring day, while Catlin was ten under after 13 holes but could not convert to join Oliver Fisher in the sub 60 club on the European Tour.

Olesen revealed last week that he had no expectations when he arrived in the Canary Islands last week and, despite firing two course records in seven days, he was still keeping the pressure off himself.

"To be honest my expectations for this week are low as well," he said. "I was very happy to finish top five (last week), that was amazing. I haven’t been that high on a leaderboard for a very long time; being in contention again was a great feeling and something I’ve missed very much for the last few years.

"I don’t set high expectations now, I found something last week and was making birdies. Today my putting was great and no wind to start made it a bit easier. I’m trying to take every day as it is and concentrate on the shot and see what’s happening."

He added: "I think the first nine holes was the best putting display I’ve shown for a very long time - I just had to look at it and it went in."

Starting on the back nine, Olesen took advantage of the par five 11th, 13th and 18th, adding further gains on the 15th, 16th and 17th to turn in 30.

A two putt birdie on the par five first made it five in a row and when he followed another on the fourth with a tee shot to tap in range at the par three fifth, history was beckoning.

A bogey on the eighth stalled his momentum but he picked the shot back up from 12 feet on the ninth to set the target.