PERTH, Scotland, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Paul Lawrie's 5-under-par 67 Thursday gave him a one-stroke lead over four others after one round of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Perth, Scotland.
Lawrie eagled the par-5 ninth, birdied the par-4 12th and closed with pars from 13-18.
He leads defending champion Gregory Havret, native Scot Steven O'Hara, Ake Nilsson and Wade Ormsby, all of whom shot 4-under 68 at the historic Gleneagles golf course.
"I'm hitting more balls and swinging in my room to get the feeling and it feels fantastic," Lawrie said about his recent improved play. "It's been too long since I won (and) I think it's the right time now."
Two early bogeys kept Havret from joining Lawrie at the top.
Nilsson birdied 16 and 18, while Ormsby made double-bogey at 17 and bogey at 18, losing three strokes.
"If you don't miss any fairways, you have a good chance to go low," Havret said.
