English golfer Jonathan Lomas (33) has turned his luck around with a brilliant start to the ANZ golf championship in Sydney today.
The former European Rookie of the Year, without a tour title since 1996, fired eight birdies and an eagle at The Lakes to rack up 20 points in the modified stableford event.
The highlight of his opening round in the co-sanctioned European and Australasian Tour event was an eagle three on the par-five 452 metre 17th, when he chipped in after drilling a four-wood off the fairway, over a water hazard, and up to the lip of the green.
"I wasn't defending as much, I suppose I was being fairly aggressive out there," he said.
Lomas was named as Europe's Rookie of the Year in 1994, but his game started to unravel after he contracted sciatic pain in both legs. He overcame the severe pain to win the 1996 Czech Open but has not won a tour title since.
"I'd love to win another tournament," Lomas said. "I haven't really set many goals yet, but my game is fine, I'm feeling pretty good".