Sizzling Jordan Smith sets pace at Portugal Masters
England's Jordan Smith opened up a one-shot lead on the first day of the Portugal Masters after firing an eagle and seven birdies in a bogey-free nine-under-par 62.
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The 29-year-old produced a brilliant performance on the greens on Thursday, holing from 30 feet at the par-five fifth for his eagle and converting several lengthy birdie putts.
A 26-foot birdie at the eighth - his penultimate hole of the afternoon - saw Smith take the outright lead, overtaking Joost Luiten and Jeff Winther at the summit.
Luiten and Winther each made eight birdies and no bogeys in their 63s to sit in a tie for second on eight-under, one shot ahead of Robin Roussel, Gavin Green and Joakim Lagergren.
Northern Ireland's Jonathan Caldwell is two-under after starting with a two-under 69, with Cormac Sharvin four shots back on two-over.
This week's event is the last chance for players to earn points to keep their playing privileges.