Bogey fails to prevent Green from taking lead

LOCH LOMOND // He has a love of fast cars, and yesterday the man from Melbourne made a speedy start to the Barclays Scottish Open. Richard Green, the stylish left-hander from Australia, found himself occupying pole position for much of the first day at Loch Lomond. Green nailed six birdies, an eagle and even had room to throw in a bogey in a seven- under-par 64. Green has won the Dubai Desert Classic, the Australian Masters and BA-CA Open in Austria in a solid if unspectacular 17-year career.

He finished joint fourth with Ernie Els in the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie after posting a course record 64 on the final day, but has found first places a little bit more difficult to discover. Green confessed the title more than money is occupying his thoughts at a tournament with a £3million (Dh18m) prize fund. "There's a lot of money out there every week for us, and you can get up there and just be content with earning a lot of money. Depends what you want out of the game," said Green.

"I've always wanted to win golf tournaments, and wanted to be one of the better players in the world. "That's sort of my plan I guess and if I can keep following those sort of goals and ambitions, hopefully a win will come along as a result of the top-10 finishes." Spain's Gonzalo Fdez-Castano shot a 65 to occupy joint second place with Scotland's Martin Laird and Graeme Storm of Northern Ireland.

Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal returned a steady enough level-par 71, while Rory McIlroy is well placed after opening with a 68. Ian Poulter and the US Masters champion Angel Cabrera shot 69s, but Lee Westwood had a mediocre first round in producing a two-over par 73. @Email:[e-mail]