TROON, Scotland, July 14 (Reuters) - American Patrick Reed's decision to spend a week of reconnaissance at the Scottish Open yielded a handsome dividend as he sprinted to the top of the leaderboard early in the British Open on Thursday.
Assisted by an outrageous eagle two at the third hole of the first round, the world number 13 signed for a five-under-par 66 on a relatively calm, sunny day at Royal Troon.
Reed finished in a share of 10th place at the Scottish Open and his links experience in the wind and rain of Inverness seems to have proved beneficial.