2026 ISPS HANDA Senior Open: Percy leads, and accuracy rewarded. A look back to the opening day at Gleneagles.

Cameron Percy made hay when the sun didn't shine on an overcast first morning of the 39th Senior Open Championship at Gleneagles on Thursday. The Australian made 8 birdies in a fine round of 63 to lead midway through the first day, and trickier afternoon conditions meant that nobody could get close to his score. Percy, a professional since 1998, took advantage of the almost windless conditions in the morning, making four consecutive birdies from 9 to 12, before a stumble at the iconic 13th hole was followed by a regulation birdie at the driveable 14th hole.

Percy has had limited success in a long career, reaching a career high of 182nd in the Official World Golf Ranking, recording just one victory in 465 counting tournaments before moving onto the senior tours of the world in 2024. On the senior stage he has though managed to compete, and has registered three top ten finishes in the senior major championships, including fifth place at Sunningdale in the 2025 Senior Open.

"I drove it really good but you have to here", said Percy. "I didn't hit in the rough once and so that was really nice. Seemed to have really good numbers, and I stopped pretty close to the hole and made a couple putts. The par fives, I drove on in two and the short par four I drove, and that helped.

Sunningdale was incredible last year. And then I just love playing links golf over here. It's brilliant. Yeah, any time I can come over here and play golf, I'm very happy.

I've never been here before. But I found something late yesterday. The last four holes I hit it really nicely, and did it again today. Hopefully I'll keep doing that and I'll be okay."

Percy made sure to mention his accuracy throughout his round, and the afternoon showed just how difficult and how important being accurate around the Kings Course is. By lunchtime on Thursday the skies had opened and a decent breeze accompanied bright sunshine and increased temperatures. The par-five tenth hole in particular became very tricky with an exposed fairway, punishing rough up the left, and a devilish ditch down the right side, some of the legends of game found both on their way up the hole, which at 495 yards is short by modern standards.

Colin Montgomerie pull-hooked his drive into deep rough on the left side, and could only extricate the ball up the left side by around 100 yards, leaving himself in the rough. The did nothing to improve his mood and the legendary Scot made a double-bogey 7 on his way to shooting an opening round of 75.

For David Duval the first round brought even more trouble with 79 shots putting him effectively out of the tournament after just 18 holes. The former World Number One and 2001 Open Champion sliced his tee shot on the 10th and his ball went careering into the ditch behind a row of mature trees, and the American was left with no option but to drop under penalty and attempt to somehow get the ball back in play. His recovery did well to make it to within 30 yards of the green, but he was still in trouble, and lucky not to be stymied behind a tree for his fourth.

2014 Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley also played in the Bell's Scottish Open around the PGA Centenary Course, and the Irishman enjoyed the test which the Thursday afternoon conditions provided.

McGinley struggled in the middle third of the round on Thursday, playing holes 6 to 12 in 5 over par, but a fast start and a fantastic finish saw him post 2-under-par in the clubhouse. The 4-time DP World Tour winner birdied holes 3, 4 and 5, and finished his round with birdies at 13, 14, 16 and 18. McGinley's significant individual achievements have come on traditional style courses including Valderrama, Wentworth and Firestone Country Club, and that may stand him in good stead for this week on the Kings Course at Gleneagles.

45 players broke Par in the first round, but there were also 18 rounds of 75 and higher as the Kings Course illustrated that a lack of accuracy will be punished, severely.

Round Two is well underway in much breezier conditions, and already scoring is far more difficult than it was yesterday morning. Only 4 players out of 60 currently on the course are under par for their rounds. Live TV coverage of Round 2 begins at 1.30pm on Sky Sports Golf.

SHANK, by Matt Hooper

Matt Hooper is an Associate Member of the Sports Journalists Association