Staff WriterThe Turkish Airlines Open delivered drama and brilliance on Thursday as 23-year-old Robin Williams fired a bogey-free 65 to share the clubhouse lead.
From the moment he teed off in the last group at Regnum Carya, Williams looked every bit the scorer he’d hoped to be on the European Swing.
Williams Finds Birdie Bonanza
Starting on the 11th tee, Williams wasted no time. He rattled off three straight birdies from the 12th, then added gains on the 18th and third holes.
His sixth and final birdie of the day came at the 9th (his 17th hole), putting him alongside Germany’s Tiger Christensen and France’s Martin Couvra at six under par.
After a sluggish start to the season—making just five cuts before this week—Williams admitted he felt relief at finding his rhythm: he “felt relief at starting the European Swing strongly after making only five cuts so far in a slow start to the season.”
Robin Williams: It was great today. I played really, really solid. Bogey-free, I didn’t have any faults out there, I didn’t put myself out of position or anything, which is very easy to do it on this course.
But on the back nine, it was so peaceful out there. There really wasn’t any wind. It was like we were playing a practice out there, me and my dad just enjoying ourselves.
It was good to get off to a good start, I haven’t done that well this year, so always good to get off to a good start and then use that momentum going forward. I made some really nice putts today, which kept the momentum, and just kept me feeling free.
It feels more of a relief than anything (starting well). I didn’t get off to a great start at the beginning of the season, missed a lot of cuts and really struggled with the game.
But the three weeks after Singapore kind of worked on a few things with my dad that we didn’t really get time to in the off season, and played so many events last year.
You don’t really know if it’s going to click until it happens, and then today it did. It’s more a relief to know that we’re heading in the right direction, but it’s a long way to go.
Couvra’s Spectacular Shot-Making
Martin Couvra, the 22-year-old HotelPlanner Tour graduate, looked every bit the emerging talent.
Also beginning on the 11th, he birdied the par-five 15th before unleashing a bunker-to-cup hole-out at the 18th.
That remarkable shot kicked off a hat-trick of gains, including birdies from 14 feet at the first and seven feet at the second.
A superb approach to the fifth set up a tap-in, and although a three-putt at the sixth blemished his card, Couvra erased it with birdies at eight and nine.
Christensen Revels in “Good Pressure”
German up-and-comer Tiger Christensen, who has mostly honed his craft on the HotelPlanner Tour, leaned into what he called “good pressure” after earning a DP World Tour start.
After a middling front nine—one over for his first six holes, level through nine—Christensen’s game exploded.
A hole-out from the fringe at the tenth ignited a run of six consecutive birdies, vaulting him alongside the leaders at six under and proving that opportunity can be the best motivator.
Chasing Pack Heats Up
Hot on their heels are Dutch veteran Joost Luiten and England’s Brandon Robinson Thompson, both posting impressive five-under-par rounds to sit in outright fourth.
With the course playing firm and fast, the chasing group includes a mix of seasoned pros and young guns, ensuring the Turkish Airlines Open leaderboard will remain volatile over the weekend.
As day two approaches, all eyes will be on whether Williams can maintain his bogey-free magic, whether Couvra’s confidence continues to soar, or whether Christensen’s newfound “good pressure” carries him to the top.
One thing’s certain: at Regnum Carya, the Turkish Airlines Open has kicked off with a flourish, promising more fireworks as the tournament progresses.
