KEY POINTS:
CARNOUSTIE - A late start saw New Zealand golfer Steven Alker slogging it out in the cooler conditions to card a three-over 74 on day one of the British Open championship at Carnoustie today (NZtime).
Alker, from Hamilton, was disappointed to undo his good early round efforts with a pair of closing bogeys that left him in a tie for 78th, 9 shots behind leader Sergio Garcia of Spain.
Fellow New Zealander Michael Campbell was in a tie for third spot after shooting a solid three-under 68.
"It was very disappointing to bogey the last two holes," Alker said.
"I had good chances on 14 and 15 to make birdies but I missed five-footers on both the holes."
He then played what he called a sloppy shot on the 17th and had to lay-up on the 18th after being in the punishing rough off the tee.
"It was a kind of disappointing day... But the good thing is that I still have three more days to go.
"It was a very long day out there and in the really cool conditions later on in the round, the ball definitely wasn't travelling as far.
"It was all a matter of slogging it out and despite the rain, the course played great.
"I was pleased with my efforts early on and it was nice to pick up a couple of birdies, so if I can do that tomorrow, as I am out early, I can work my way up the leaderboard and into the weekend and that's the goal now."
- NZPA
