Grant Forrest had to get back home for the treatment he needed for a hip problem, but the acupuncture seems to be working as he set a strong pace in qualifying for the Amateur Championship.
In as perfect playing conditions as Carnoustie can offer, the former Scottish Amateur and St Andrew Links Trophy champion shot a five-under 67 to lead the elite field.
He’s well positioned for the second round of qualifying at Panmure playing firmer and perhaps slightly tougher than the main venue for once.
Indeed, at times yesterday one actually feared for the peerless reputation of the Championship Course, reputedly the toughest of all major championship venues.
Leon Fricker, an English national squad player, covered the once-fearsome final six holes in levels 3s.
Forrest himself made mincemeat of the much-feared 17th, simply carrying the bunker up the left over both sweeps of the Barry Burn 280 yards on the full hitting in to 25ft and holing his seventh birdie of the day.
It’s a rarity they get the Championship Course so under-protected by the elements, and it seems it will be a fleeting pleasure.
Stronger winds are expected today and tomorrow, so normal service should be resumed.
With that in mind, Forrest took full advantage, feeling more comfortable since his return home from San Diego University as he can now get treatment for a hip injury denied him in the US because of the legal intricacies involved.
“It’s restricted me all through April, but now I’m back I can get it properly seen to,” he said.
“I’ve had stretching exercises, a few elbows pushed on it and some acupuncture, which I’d never had before, but something seems to be working.
“I’ve been back two weeks and had a couple of sessions with the SGU’s physio and it’s made an immediate difference.”
Bogeys at the eighth and ninth were his only setbacks, and he took advantage of all three par fives with his putting the key.
Forrest has now finished his studies at San Diego one of his wins in US college golf was at Chambers Bay, this week’s venue for the US Open but is in no real hurry to give the pro game a go.
He’s targeting a Walker Cup place, and Ireland’s Jack Hume, tucked in behind after a 68 at Carnoustie, is another seemingly set for the matches against the USA at Royal Lytham in September.
Hume eagled the 12th usually a par four at Carnoustie when the R&A visit but playing as the customary par five this week and was most surprised at the lack of wind.
“I’ve got a two-iron in my bag which is there because it’s such a great club for hitting under the wind, but I hear it’s coming for us tomorrow,” he said.
New Zealand’s Ryan Chisnall later matched Forrest’s 67 to share the lead at the host venue, but it seemed harder going over at Panmure for most at least.
Alfie Plant, the English squad player from Sunridge Park in Kent, started in scorching fashion with two birdies and an eagle in his first three holes and was out in 30.
When he bagged his second eagle two of the day at the 10th it seemed anything was possible, but the 22-year-old slowed up and parred his way in for a seven-under 63, still four shots better than anything else at the second course.
Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult, the favourite as the third-ranked amateur player in the world, is well placed after a 70 at Carnoustie, but home hope Connor Syme has work to do after a 73 at Panmure.
The top 64 and ties after two days of qualifying go into tomorrow’s matchplay draw, with the cut at level par after the first day.