Lin's Bright Start Earns Garcia Plaudits

Sandwich, England: Sticking rigidly to his gameplan, Lin Yuxin made a confident start to the 149th Open Championship – impressing former Masters champion Sergio Garcia in the process.

Thanks to four birdies on his card, the two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship winner posted an opening one-under-par 69 at Royal St George’s.

“It’s a good start for me,” said the 20-year-old Chinese left-hander, who missed the cut in his only previous Open appearance at Carnoustie in 2018 when he signed for rounds of 80 and 74.

“I’m not used to playing in these kind of conditions, so my strategy was to put it in the right place off the tee,” said Lin, who transferred from USC to Florida last year and won the Southern Highlands Collegiate.

“This is a great venue and I need to stick to my gameplan tomorrow,” said Lin, whose nerves were eased with a birdie at the first.

Relishing playing alongside Spaniard Garcia and American Scottie Scheffler, Lin picked up further shots at the eighth, 12th and 14th. Bogeys at the fourth, 10th and 15th did not take the gloss off his performance or the experience.

“I really enjoyed playing with Sergio and Scottie. They’re great guys,” said Lin, one of eight amateurs in the starting line-up.

Garcia predicted a bright future for Lin. “That’s the first time I’ve played with him and I was very impressed. He’s an excellent ball-striker and it feels like he’s got a good all-round game,” said Garcia, who signed for a 68.

Japan’s Takumi Kanaya, another ex-Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship winner, also made a bright start.

Playing three groups behind Lin, 23-year-old Kanaya, who turned professional late last year after rising to the summit in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, fired an even-par 70.

Having missed the cut at Royal Portrush in 2019 while still an amateur, Kanaya is well placed to qualify for the weekend which would be a huge boost for Japanese fans disappointed by the withdrawal of Hideki Matsuyama, who tested positive for Covid-19.