Dyson cleans up in opening round as vandals and weather hit course

Aiming for his third KLM Open title in six years, England’s Simon Dyson shot a five-under-par opening round of 65 to share the lead with Marcel Siem on a day marred by vandals and torrential rainfall.

Play was delayed for 45 minutes after vandals dug up parts of four greens at the Hilversum Club. Later, heavy rain soaked the course, forcing players off for more than three hours.

Areas on the fourth, fifth, sixth and ninth were dug up overnight, leading to a 45-minute hold-up to the first round as the damage was repaired. The affected parts were marked off as ground under repair, allowing players to move balls away when necessary.

Championship director Daan Slooter said: “At this moment we do not know who caused the damage. For this evening and the rest of the tournament we have increased security substantially.

“I’m very disappointed for all the people here at the club who worked so hard over the past few days, through challenging weather conditions, to ensure the course was in playable condition. However, having said that, the same professionalism of the greenkeepers has ensured that the damage has been repaired so the tournament can go ahead.”

Unfazed by the delays, Dyson had an eagle at the 484-yard par-5 12th as well as five more birdies and two bogeys. He won the event in 2006 and 2009 on the Kennemer course. “That’s probably the wettest course I’ve ever played,” Dyson said as he dried off in the clubhouse.

World No 3 Martin Kaymer made a miserable start to the defence of his title when he squelched to a four-over-par 74.

The German, still suffering from a heavy cold he picked up last week in Switzerland, trails Siem and Dyson by nine strokes.

Kaymer now needs a significant change in fortunes in the second round if he is to make the cut to try to hold off world No 4 Rory McIlroy in the world rankings.

“My cold is making me feel a little weak for sure and that’s not the best when the course is playing so long in the wet,” said Kaymer.

“Twice I had to hit into the greens with woods on par-4s. But I just didn’t use all my chances, especially the par-5s. I only had one birdie as well and I just couldn’t make a putt. At least I have a long lie-in to try to get myself in shape for tomorrow.” The 2010 US PGA champion will get extra sleep because the second half of the field – including McIlroy and world No 2 Lee Westwood – had only just begun their rounds when he finished his in early evening.

McIlroy and Westwood will have to finish off their rounds today before turning around to play their second rounds. Westwood was level-par after eight holes when darkness closed in to end play and McIlroy was one over, also after eight.

David Law, controversially left out of the Great Britain and Ireland side for this weekend’s Walker Cup match against the Americans in his home city Aberdeen, had a day to forget, shooting a 78, which was equalled by his fellow Scot Elliot Saltman.

Marc Warren, however, kept up his solid run of form by opening with a 68, which leaves him just three off the clubhouse lead, while Richie Ramsay shot a 70. Scott Jamieson and Stephen Gallacher also completed their rounds, both in 72, while George Murray was two back in 74.