Journeyman John Wade is the shock leader of the Perth International, with the Victorian golfer upstaging a host of big names to shoot a tournament record eight-under 64 on Thursday.
Wade, who only qualified for the $US1.75 million ($A1.9 million) event on Monday, said he surprised even himself with his hot opening round that included six birdies and an eagle.
The 46-year-old revealed he was contemplating quitting the sport at the end of this year, but he may have to rethink that stance if he manages to win the Perth International and secure the one-year European Tour exemption that goes with it.
“We’ll see what happens come the end of the year. If I don’t play any good at all, then it probably makes the decision for me to put the clubs away permanently,” Wade said.
“I’m not playing much golf these days.
“I’ve got a lot of holes in my game still that rear their head.
“This is ridiculous really (to be leading this event). I didn’t know what to expect.
“I’ve really been struggling recently, even in the lead-up.
“This is all new to me. I’ve just got to go out with the same attitude tomorrow.”
Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen sits just one stroke further back at seven-under after 12 holes, while West Australian Michael Sim and Scotland’s Peter Whiteford are equal third at six-under.
Five-time European Tour winner Brett Rumford defied his recent poor form to shoot a five-under 67, while 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel sits one stroke further back after nailing a long-range putt on his final hole.
Rumford entered the co-sanctioned European Tour event having missed the cut in 10 of his past 11 tournaments.
But the 37-year-old was able to maintain his composure when the going got tough during the latter part of his round on Thursday.
“The last nine holes I just felt the struggle in there a little bit,” Rumford said.
“I just wasn’t as clean as obviously my first nine or ten holes.
“But outside of that it’s exactly what I was hoping for.
“I’m not too far off the lead.
“Obviously it’s just a nice, refreshing start compared to what I’ve been doing recently.”
The highlight of the day belonged to Anthony Brown, who scored a hole in one on the par-three 12th.
