Graeme Storm blows away past to open in style

Three years after walking off Sunningdale's New Course because he was playing so badly, Graeme Storm took his revenge this morning with a dazzling 62 in the first round of the 36-hole Open qualifying event.

The former French Open champion completed his eight-under-par display with an 18-foot eagle putt on the last and said: "I came off after nine or 10 holes last time because I was just terrible."

Storm missed the cut in the Wales Open on Friday but added: "I took the weekend off and that meant I'm not tired. Even though I was nine over there I never had any luck but I got away with many bad shots here."

Storm was among 96 players today competing for 10 spots at Turnberry.

He held an early three-stroke lead over Scot Andrew Coltart, trying to make it into his first Open since Muirfield in 2002.