Jeev Milkha Singh keeps pace with top-10 at Scottish Open

“I’m happy with five-under. I was three-under after four and then I went off the routine and gave away two bogeys.But then I got off well on back nine and had four birdies in a space of five holes. Then I had a chip in for birdie on last and it leaves a good taste as you finish,” Jeev said.

“I am enjoying myself,the weather has been excellent,though there was some pressure. The pressure comes because when you want to do the best every time you tee up,” he said.

“There were lot of birdie holes there. I tried to get to seven-under,it is that kind of course,but I am happy with five-under.” England’s John Parry (64) continued his return to form by taking the clubhouse lead midway through the opening round as Phil Mickelson (66) also started strongly. Other good starts came from Simon Khan (65) and four others including Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat shot 66 each.

Mickelson quickly hit his stride on Thursday,shooting a 6-under 66 to sit two strokes off Parry’s lead midway through the first round. Rebounding from three-putting for bogey on his first hole,Mickelson picked apart a defenseless Castle Stuart links course under blue skies and little wind in the Scottish Highlands to hit six birdies and an eagle at No. 12.

The eighth-ranked American is seeking a first win in Europe in 20 years,while using the event as practice for next week’s British Open at Muirfield. “It’s great for me to get off to a decent start because I have gotten off to poor starts the last couple of years here and I have been fighting just to make the cut and get into reasonable contention,” said the four-time major winner. “Many of my great rounds in the past have started with a bogey so I wasn’t too worried.”

Parry,ranked No. 471,led the way after shooting a blemish-free round of 64 in the second group out in perfect conditions. Fellow Englishman Simon Khan shot 65 and is alone in second.

A sea of red on the scoreboard suggested Castle Stuart is there for the taking until the wind picks up off the Moray Firth,and Parry and Khan had the best of the conditions in the opening two groups. Parry,who lost his tour card in 2011 and was as low as No. 604 back in December,had his confidence boosted by a 28th-place finish at the U.S. Open last month in his first major and is chasing a win here to seal a spot in his home major next week — the bonus prize for coming first.

Of his eight birdies,five came on the front nine after setting out at 7:40 a.m. local time (0640 GMT). Picking up a shot at the last pushed him ahead of Khan and left him with a broad grin on his face.

“It was one of them where it just keeps happening,’’ said Parry,whose only tournament win came in the Vivendi Cup in 2010. “You wonder why you can’t do that every week.’’