Worksop’s finest, Lee Westwood, got off to a blistering start at the Thailand Golf Championship at Amata Springs Country Club this morning, carding a 12-under-par 60 to take a five-shot lead over John Daly (yes, that John Daly).

Seven-under-par through his opening six holes, the Englishman had his sights set on carding a 59 before he reached the turn.

“It was in my mind to get to 13 under but it wasn’t to be,” he said. “I gave myself a few chances. Left one short on the hole on 11 and one short on 14. Had a good chance on 16 as well.

“I don’t think you can be disappointed with a 60. I have to be a fairly harsh critic of myself to walk away disappointed.”

Former Open champion John Daly, who himself shot a relatively impressive 65, couldn’t conceive of a player bettering his score by a full five shots.

“I would have never ever dreamed that I would shoot a 7 under let alone a 12 under. My hat that I’m not wearing is off to him because that was just an awesome round of golf he played.”

Sixteen shots back of Westwood, in a tie for 100th place, is the name of another ball-striking savant: Sergio Garcia.

The Spaniard endured a turbulent round on Thursday, the lowlight of which came during a fit of pique, when he pitched his four-iron into a nearby water hazard.

Conor Nagle