First round leaderboard
-5 J Ko (Fra), P Waring (Eng); -4 J Campillo, T Lawrence
Selected: -3 T Hatton (Eng), J Smith (Eng), L Canter (Eng), A Wilson (Eng), S Gallacher (Sco)
England’s Paul Waring holds a share of the lead with Ko Jeong-weon of France after the first round of the British Masters.
Waring hit seven birdies and two bogeys at The Belfry for a five-under-par 67.
Compatriot and two-time Ryder Cup winner Tyrell Hatton missed the chance to be just one shot off the lead as he hit a bogey on the last.
He signed for a three under 69 and is in a share of fifth with a group of several players that includes England’s Jordan Smith, Laurie Canter, Andrew Wilson and Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher.
“You’d rather hit it out to 20 or 30 feet and two putt,” Hatton said after missing a short par putt on the last.
“You hit an unreal bunker shot and then miss from three-and-a-half feet, it’s annoying.”
Hatton is playing on the DP World Tour after appealing against the sanctions imposed for playing LIV Golf events without permission.
South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence and Spain’s Jorge Campillo are a shot off the lead after matching rounds of 68.
