Fisher shoots course-record 63 to lead European Open

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ASH, England (AP) -- Ross Fisher had 10 birdies for a course-record 9-under 63 Thursday to take a five-stroke clubhouse lead in the first round of the European Open.

Playing without a practice round, Fisher said he relied mainly on the advice of his caddie Adam Marrow -- who had walked the course twice -- for how to approach his shots.

"He told me where to hit it, where the run-offs were and what clubs to hit. He was pretty much spot-on," Fisher said.

The 27-year-old Englishman started at the 10th hole on the 7,257-yard London Golf Club course and birdied four of the first nine, with his only bogey at the eighth.

He went on to birdie his last six holes, capping his run with a wind-assisted drive of more than 400 yards at the par-4 ninth, finishing about 35 yards short of the flag.

Fisher was five shots ahead of Jeev Milka Singh, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Robert Rock, Peter Hedblom and Peter Hanson, who all shot 68.

Colin Montgomerie, who was second in the French Open Sunday, was in a group two strokes further back after a 70. Darren Clarke, who is trying to qualify for the British Open, carded a 71 and Padraig Harrington shot 72.

Fisher broke the course record of 64 set by Seve Ballesteros when the Club was opened in 1994.

Fisher described his round as "a bit surreal" after deciding against a practice round Tuesday and settling for light practice Wednesday because he was exhausted after his successful 36-hole qualifying bid Monday for the British Open.

He spent Tuesday at Wimbledon with his wife on her birthday, watching the women's semifinals, and the relaxed schedule seemed to work.

"It felt easy," he said. "It felt like I was parring, whereas in fact I was making birdies."

Montgomerie, who also started at the 10th, birdied three of his first eight holes, bogeyed the next and his 17th, then birdied the last from 15 feet.

"It was very tricky," he said. "But disregarding the leading score, I'm only two behind."

Clarke made four bogeys in five holes on his first nine but birdied three holes on his second nine where he hit every fairway and green.

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