Horsey reins in shaky form with blistering start to Saudi International

Horsey had missed the cut in his previous two events but enjoyed an emphatic return to form in Saudi Arabia, where world number one Dustin Johnson carded a 67.

The Englishman boasted an unblemished scorecard, though it was his back nine that attracted most of the glory.

Seven of his nine birdies came after the turn, and an eagle on the par-five 18th would have secured him only the second 59 in European Tour history.

He fell short of that achievement but was no less taken aback by his performance, partly putting his improvement down to a telephone chat with a friend back at home on the eve of the tournament.

"It's a shock actually," he is quoted as saying by the European Tour website. "I've been playing rubbish the last couple weeks. Didn't feel like I controlled my ball the first two events.

No 59, but you'd take a 61 What a round @DaveHorsey!#SaudiIntlGolf | @Workday pic.twitter.com/yTXZI08ZNa

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 4, 2021

"I had a conversation with a pal back home last night, talking a few things through and he suggested something that I work on away from the tournament.

"Knowing me, I thought, well, [I] can't get any worse, so I may as well try it and here we are. It's really just how my body is moving – quite sort of technical really. It's nice to have a feel you can wake up and pick up straight away.

"I didn't really feel like I missed many shots. I holed a couple of nice, lengthy putts as well and it all adds up to 61."

While Horsey was undoubtedly grateful to rein in his patchy recent form, he is now saddled with an entirely different form of pressure at the top of the leaderboard.

Today marks Stephen Gallacher's 584th European Tour event.His round one 62 is the lowest opening round of his career #SaudiIntlGolf | @Workday

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 4, 2021

Stephen Gallacher is breathing down his neck having gone around in 62, his best ever opening-round score, and the Scot – who won two of his four European Tour titles in the Middle East – is relishing his golf after a difficult 2020 all round.

"It was just draw a line in the sand for 2020," he said. "With everything that happened: the pandemic, [death of] my dad, losing friends, it was just one of those terrible years.

"I couldn't wait for 2021 to come really and get back to a bit of normal - back playing and back enjoying it.

"I worked hard in the winter in the gym and on my net in the house, and came out early and showed a bit of form early doors. 2020, just erase it from my memory and look forward now to 2021."