Wilson 18-hole Leader at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship; McIlroy Opens with 73


England's Oliver Wilson opened with an 8-under 64 at Carnoustie to take over the first-round lead in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland. The European Tour uses Carnoustie as well as Kingsbarns and St. Andrews for the venues in the pro-am-style tournament.

The 34-year-old Wilson posted nine birdies and a bogey Thursday for a one-stroke lead over Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin, who carded a 65 at Carnoustie, and two over Irishmen, Padraig Harrington (Carnoustie) and Shane Lowry (Kingsbarns).

Wilson was pleased with his start, especially considering that he played Carnoustie first and bad weather is expected the next few days. "It's nice to be on that board, yeah," said Wilson, who's searching for his first tour title either in Europe or the States. "I was really pleased with how I played. I've been working hard and game is improving all the time. But to come to a course like this, when I saw Carnoustie first, I was not quite sure, because I was - I thought it might be nice to play one of the other courses first and get going in the tournament. So to come to Carnoustie the first round and shoot a score like this, obviously really happy. Game can be improved but I was really happy."

Three strokes further back are Brits Ryan Evans (Kingsbarns) and Robert Rock (St. Andrews), Scotland's Jamie McLeary and Spaniard Eduardo De La Riva, who shot 67s at Kingsbarns, Spain's Adrian Otaegui (St. Andrews) and France's Gregory Bourdy (Carnoustie).

No. 1-ranked Rory McIlroy came down to earth after the European's scintillating victory in the Ryder Cup last week. The 25-year-old Northern Irishman, a two-time major winner this year who's playing this week with his father Gerry, shot a 73 at Carnoustie.

McIlroy, who earned two and a half points at Gleneagles for the Euros, admitted later that his game was off. "A little bit flat, if I'm honest," he told Sky Sports 4. "Obviously with the crowds and everything we were playing in front of last week, to come here it seems a little quiet out there, but it was fun to get to play with my dad.

"I wish I had played a bit better and made a few more birdies but hopefully that will happen over the next couple of days.

"I want to win every week and I want to play well this week and at least give myself a chance. It was not the best score out there for me but we got the hardest course out of the way."

Other scores - also at Carnoustie - by European Ryder Cup members included a 68 by Stephen Gallacher, a 71 by Victor Dubuisson, a 72 by team captain Paul McGinley, a 74 by Martin Kaymer.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014078/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y.