Murphy shoots into share of the lead in Holland

Golf Dutch Open: Gary Murphy shared the lead with British duo Alastair Forsyth and Jamie Donaldson in the Dutch Open first round yesterday after shooting six-under-par 64s.

Two more Britons, David Carter and David Lynn and Swede Fredrik Widmark, were a shot behind.

While Kilkenny man Murphy and Donaldson are targeting debuts in the end-of-season Volvo Masters, Forsyth has most to gain from a good week at the Hilversumsche course.

The 27-year-old Scot's six birdies on a faultless card could be the springboard to a top-15 European Order of Merit finish but, more importantly, give him a chance of bettering his two second places this year.

Forsyth is bidding to elevate himself from 19th on the European money list to the top 15 who are assured of spots at next year's British and US Opens.

Forsyth lost his card by just one place in 2001. However, his management company protested so strongly that Sergio Garcia should not have stayed on the Order of Merit because he had not played the WGC American Express, and so had not completed the mandatory 11 European tournaments, the Scot was handed several invitations for 2002.

The European Tour counted the American Express event as one played, despite the WGC being cancelled due to the September 11th atrocities.

Forsyth took full advantage by winning the Malaysian Open and kick-started his career.

Some of Forsyth's rivals this week are similarly fighting to keep cards. Carter, struggling on 133rd on the money list is one. The Englishman beat seven-times European number one Colin Montgomerie in a play-off for the 1998 Irish Open title, the year he partnered Nick Faldo to a World Cup triumph for England.

After keeping a card for nine years, Carter, who survived brain surgery in Dubai in 1997 after going into a coma following an accident on a waterslide in South Africa 10 days previously, needs a big cheque from his last three events.

Former Volvo PGA champion and six-times tour winner Tony Johnstone is an even higher profile struggler, but he gave himself an 11th-hour chance of survival with a 68.

The 47-year-old Zimbabwean, who won as late as the 2001 Qatar Masters, is in danger of losing his card after 25 years on tour, having slipped out of the top 40 on the career list and languishing this year in 176th place on the Order of Merit.

He has not been helped by a mystery virus which affects the pancreas, a condition he has suffered with for a year.

Another veteran, double-major winner Sandy Lyle who is struggling to keep his card after holding one for 26 years, shot a first-round 75.

The European Tour revealed yesterday it had underwritten the Dutch Open by providing the €1 million prize fund, rescuing the threatened event after the main sponsors withdrew.