ST. ANDREWS, Scotland, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Eduardo Romero of Argentina fired a 7-under-par 65 Thursday and had a one-shot lead after the first round of the Dunhill Links Championship.
Romero is hoping to complete a "Tartan Double" at this event after winning the Barclays Scottish Open on the west coast of Scotland in July. He had eight birdies and one bogey at this $5 million event, which uses a Pro-Am format at three golf courses -- Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St. Andrews.
The final round is played at St. Andrews.
Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who earned a crucial point against Mark Calcavecchia in the Ryder Cup singles to help the European team prevail at The Belfry last weekend, was one of three players tied for second at 6-under 66.
Jyoti Randhawa of India, who played at Kingsbarns, and Nic Lawrence of South Africa also carded a 66. Randhawa is trying to bounce back from breaking his collarbone in a motorcycle accident in March.
Harrington collected five birdies and one bogey. He needs a victory if he is to overtake Ernie Els and Retief Goosen and become the leading money winner on the European circuit.
"I'd have to win this week," the 31-year-old from Dublin said. "It's a great situation because I don't have to worry about winning the Order of Merit. I just have to concentrate on winning a tournament."
Thomas Bjorn of Denmark, another member of Europe's winning Ryder Cup team, was two shots off the pace and tied with Mikael Lundberg of Sweden and Spain's Santiago Luna. Bjorn and Luna were at Carnoustie while Lundberg competed at St. Andrews.
Former U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen, Vijay Singh and Colin Montgomerie all carded a 2-under 70 at Carnoustie.
