BBC SPORT | Golf | Dier leaves them trailing

Tobias Dier has fired himself to the top of the leaderboard at the TNT Dutch Open and into the record books.

The 25-year-old from Germany carded an opening round 60 to leave the rest of the field trailing in his wake at the Hilversumsche Golf Club in the Netherlands.

Every time I enter a tournament I go in with the attitude that I'm going to win

Chris van der Velde

He picked up 10 birdies in a bogey-free round to break the course record and knock five strokes off his previous best round.

Dier had a 30ft putt from just off the green at the final hole for an eagle, which would have given him the first official 59 on the European Tour.

But Dier, who had an albatross two at the 18th in Wednesday's pro-am, could only manage a birdie this time - but it still enabled him to become only the ninth player to card a 60 on the tour.

"I'm still not on earth, I'm somewhere in orbit," said the 25-year-old from Nuremberg, who had missed the cut in 12 of his last 15 events.

"It will feel great in a few minutes.

"I've never had a score like this, 60 is a number everybody dreams of.

"It was only when I made my fourth birdie at the eighth that I realised I could put together a really good score."

His only previous win on the European Tour was at the North West of Ireland Open in 2001 and he is 182nd in the Order of Merit.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington
Harrington is six shots off the pace

"In financial terms a big cheque would come in very handy. But you know how it goes," he added.

"There are lots of good players and any one of them could suddenly shoot a 62 tomorrow."

Chris van der Velde of the Netherlands was one of four players in second place after firing a five under par 65.

Van der Velde, the Dutch national coach, is now only a part-time player on the tour.

"Golf is just my hobby nowadays," Van der Velde said. "I'm coach to the national team and I've only played four tournaments this year.

"I work with the guys a lot on the mental stuff and every time I enter a tournament I go in with the attitude that I'm going to win.

"If I don't think I can win, I shouldn't be playing and that is what I'm telling the young guys."

Hand injury

Former Ryder Cup players David Gilford and Ronan Rafferty along with Raymond Russell are tied with Van der Velde on five under par.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington was one of seven players on four under par after the opening round, while England's Justin Rose was a shot back after a 67.

Defending champion Bernhard Langer could manage only a one over par 71.

John Daly, who is playing with a hand injury, came back with a four under par back nine to be 10 shots off the lead with a level par 70.

Daly sticks it to doctors

England pair Nick Faldo and Mark James were in a tie for 14th place after shooting 68s.

First round leaderboard at the TNT Dutch Open (UK unless stated)

60 Tobias Dier (Ger)
65 David Gilford, Chris Van Der Velde (Ned), Ronan Rafferty, Raymond Russell
66 David Howell, Christopher Hanell (Swe), Jarrod Moseley (Aus), Maarten Lafeber (Ned), Padraig Harrington, Jamie Spence, Carlos Rodiles (Spa)
67 Peter Lonard (Aus), John Bickerton, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose, Marc Farry (Fra)


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