Steve Webster had to be persuaded to tee it up at the Made in Denmark but he will take a one-shot lead into the weekend at Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort.
The Englishman’s grandmother had a fall at the weekend and it was only after some coaxing from his father that Webster decided to come and play in just his ninth event of the season after losing his card last term.
An opening 64 handed him a share of the first-round lead and on a much windier Friday in Farsø, Webster carded a 70 in the toughest conditions of the day to get to eight under and lead the way from 2014 champion Marc Warren, his successor David Horsey, India’s SSP Chawrasia and Ireland’s Paul Dunne.
Webster had been an ever-present on the European Tour since winning the Qualifying School in 1995 until losing his card while playing on a medical exemption last season and has two wins under his belt.
A wrist injury has curtailed his progress in recent times but he admitted the health of his grandmother has put those troubles in perspective and he feels that may be helping him this week.
He will have to continue to play his best to hold off a tightly bunched leaderboard which features 52 players within six holes of the lead with 36 holes to play.
The incredible crowds who flock every year to make the Made in Denmark one of the Tour’s most well-supported and most exciting events will have plenty to cheer about over the weekend with Lasse Jansen leading the home charge on six under par and Søren Kjeldsen, JB Hansen and Mads Søgaard a shot further back on five under par alongside two-time Major champion John Daly.
Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjørn, meanwhile, produced a vintage display on his back nine – making four birdies to card a three under 68 (for a one under total) and comfortably make the cut in this his 500th European Tour event in front of his adoring public.
Player quotes
Steve Webster: “It was very tough out there today. It was gusting to 30 miles per hour and was mostly a cross-wind off the left which is very difficult to play in. But I played well and was very patient – anything under par today feels like a 65 yesterday so I’m very happy.
“All I was trying to do was make pars and give myself a chance here and there and when I did that I managed to take them. I have to be honest and say I haven’t been thinking too much about the golf this week. My mind has really been thinking about my Nan back home because she had a nasty fall at the weekend. Thankfully she is making recovery and maybe taking my mind away from the golf has been a good thing.
“I’m looking forward to the weekend – I am swinging it well and just need to stick to the boring stuff of one shot at a time. It’s hard to say what kind of score you will need to win because it will just depend on the conditions. If we get weather like yesterday then scoring will be low but of the wind blows like it did this morning then level par will be a great score.”
David Horsey: “It was tricky and the wind kept the scores fairly tame. I am pleased with the score because I didn’t feel comfortable out there today. I still hit some good shots and made a few putts which was great so I think I can improve for tomorrow and contend over the weekend.
“Obviously I have great memories of this place and it always helps when you return to a venue where you have played well in the past and that suits your eye. This is one of those places for me and it’s always one of the first events I put on my schedule at the start of every season.”
Marc Warren: “The wind helped me focus on hitting the shots I needed to instead of thinking about my swing. I filmed myself on the range after I had played yesterday and I noticed that I was a little long on the backswing so I manged to shorten it down a little bit and took that to the courses today.
“I’m confident for the weekend. I was in control from start to finish today and I struck the ball solidly today – if I continue that I should be up there.
“Being near the top of the leaderboard make a change from the last while! You can definitely feed off being a past champion at any event and the good memories of coming down the stretch can give something to feed off over the weekend so hopefully I can continue to play well.”
SSP Chawrasia: “I’m playing well and to be bogey free for two days obviously means I am playing well, especially today because the conditions were very tough. I played well today and stuck to the game plan that my caddie and I had discussed before going out.
“This is such a fun week, especially when you play holes like the 16th. The crowds are fantastic and really get involved in the tournament which makes it a great experience.
“I’m looking forward to the weekend – I didn’t realise I was so close to the lead to be honest but I just need to try and do the same things as I have over the weekend and try to finish as best as i can over the weekend.”
Paul Dunne: “I hit the ball really well today and controlled the ball it very well in the wind. It was a lot better than yesterday but didn’t putt as well today which is kind of typical I suppose. I left a few out there today but all in all it was a good considering the conditions out there – especially at the start of the round.
“It was very tricky but the scores were still out there. The wind made a lot of holes extremely tough but there were also a few holes that you could get aggressive on if you drove the ball well and I managed to do that a few times and pick up a few shots.
“The game plan is more of the same. I know we all say it but there are a lot guys bunched on that leaderboard so it’s going to be pretty tight over the weekend. If I can hit the ball like I did today and putt like I did yesterday I’ll have a great chance to win but there is a long way to go.”
