• Wales Open

Luiten leads as Ryder Cup picks struggle in Wales

Stephen Gallacher endured a difficult start to his Ryder Cup preparations at Celtic Manor © Getty Images

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Stephen Gallacher endured a miserable start during the first round of the Wales Open, while his three Ryder Cup team-mates also struggled to make an impact at Celtic Manor.

Ryder Cup debutant Gallacher was chosen as one of European captain Paul McGinley's three wildcard picks, but looked out-of-sorts throughout, finding himself five-over par through 13 holes. Two further bogeys followed as the Scot finished with a 7-over 78.

Lee Westwood, an automatic pick for Europe's squad, closed with a 2-over 73 while Thomas Bjorn stuttered to 1-over through 13, but recovered for an even-par opening round of 71.

Welshman Jamie Donaldson's round of 70 left him five strokes adrift of leader Joost Luiten; the Dutchman edged Nicolas Colsaerts for the outright lead with a superb 6-under round of 65, which included bogey on 17 and a birdie on the 18th.

Colsaerts, who finished with an impressive 66, revealed his disappointment at not being involved in the Ryder Cup team next week after witnessing Europe's quartet joining McGinley for dinner on Wednesday night.

"I saw them having dinner and thought 'I wish I was in that room," said Colsaerts, who carded eight birdies and an eagle in a fourball win alongside Westwood at Medinah two years ago.

"It's their adventure and I am not part of it, but once you play in one Ryder Cup, you don't want to miss another one.

However, the Belgian will take significant pride from the round after hammering a 447-yard drive down the 18th - a new European Tour record - before sinking an eagle on the 613-yard par five.

"I thought it was too far right but it's all downhill and downwind and it must have lugged down the fairway," Colsaerts added. "If all the stars align you can hit it a long way."

English duo Robert Rock and Sam Walker are two shots off the lead at 4-under, with Tommy Fleetwood a further stroke back after his round of 68.

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