Superb 63 a relief for Retief after early shock

By Tony Jimenez

LOCH LOMOND, Scotland (Reuters) - Retief Goosen duffed his first shot like a weekend hacker before proving his pedigree with an eight-under-par 63 to sail into a two-stroke lead in the Scottish Open second round on Friday.

The 40-year-old South African hit seven birdies and an eagle after recovering from the surprise of dribbling a 180-yard drive into the rough at the par-four 10th, his opening hole.

Goosen, the Loch Lomond course-record holder after firing a 62 in 1997, finished with a total of 11-under 131. Adam Scott (67) was in second place on 133, one ahead of fellow Australian Marcus Fraser (66) and Germany's Martin Kaymer (65).

"I was trying to hit a three-wood off the tee at the 10th and hit a low, thinny one going right," the 2001 and 2004 U.S. Open champion told reporters at the warm-up event for next week's British Open at Turnberry.

"It was a bit of a weird start, a bit of a shock. My playing partners (Australian world number six Geoff Ogilvy and Britain's Oliver Wilson) kept quiet but I'm sure they were laughing."

With the rippling waters of Loch Lomond glistening like diamonds on another day of glorious sunshine, Goosen scrambled his par at the 10th by knocking in a 30-foot putt before rattling off birdies at the 13th, 16th and 18th.

Nothing could stop the 2001 Scottish Open champion on his back nine as he mixed an eagle three at the third with birdies at the first, fourth, seventh and eighth.

'BIG FIVE'