Smart start for Phillips: Golf
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.England's Van Phillips, wearing a tie and long-sleeved shirt because of a sponsorship deal, fired a five-under-par 67 to lie just two strokes behind Australian Peter O'Malley after the first round of the Portuguese Open at Aroeira yesterday.
The 24-year-old from Maidenhead matched O'Malley's seven birdies, but bogeys at the fourth and eighth, both par threes, dropped him into a share of third place, the Swede Max Anglert moving into second with a 66.
Jose Maria Olazabal, who described the bookmakers who made him favourite for the title as "a little bit insane", was not changing that view despite a two-under 70 in only his second event back after an 18-month injury lay-off.
Olazabal has now scored under par in four of his first five rounds back and yesterday received the Johnnie Walker golfer of the month award for February for his 12th-place finish in Dubai.
Seve Ballesteros is involved in a fight to avoid his fourth successive missed cut this season following a 73, while Howard Clark had a 74 which included a quintuple-bogey eight on the 142-yard 14th where he put three balls into the lake guarding the green.
Steve Richardson, second to Ballesteros on the 1991 Order of Merit, is facing a fifth missed cut in a row after a 78 and Sam Torrance slumped to an 81 without a single birdie.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments