Veteran Romero on Scottish Open double trail

By Norman Dabell

LOCH LOMOND, Scotland (Reuters) - Argentine veteran Eduardo Romero, 50 in nine days' time, gave himself a chance to win his second Scottish Open title in three years on Thursday.

A six-under-par 65 meant a share of the lead in the first round with Welshman Phillip Price and Spain's Jose Manuel Lara.

The trio are a stroke ahead of Italian Emanuele Canonica, with 1996 British Open champion and 1997 Scottish Open winner Tom Lehman in a group two shots off the lead.

After holing a 12ft birdie putt on the last to bring back memories of his dramatic 2002 Scottish Open success, when he beat Swede Fredrik Jacobson in a playoff, Romero said: "I feel very strong and the yoga I do for 10-15 minutes before every round gives me patience and concentration.

"I don't want to go on the seniors tours yet because my game is good enough for the regular tour.

"I might change my mind at the end of the year and I will have to play seniors in two years definitely because I will be old, and younger players are coming up behind me.

"But at the moment I'm not going to be playing more than a couple of times on the seniors this year in Europe and America."

Romero, winner of eight European Tour titles and second in May in the British Masters, became the oldest winner on the European Tour when he won at Loch Lomond two years ago at the age of 47 year 362 days.

Earlier, Price was relishing the possibility of playing alongside the man he beat in the 2002 Ryder Cup, US Masters champion Phil Mickelson, at the weekend.

Mickelson has some catching up to do, however, after shooting a 72 to trail seven shots behind the man who beat him in the Ryder Cup singles when the American was world number two.

Just a week after walking out on the European Open in Ireland claiming his game was in disarray, Denmark's Thomas Bjorn turned his fortunes with a 68 to lie three strokes off the lead, only marring his day with a last hole bogey.

"I went out with a positive attitude and kept going," said Bjorn,"

Defending champion Ernie Els recovered from back stiffness over his opening holes to shoot a 70, but Briton Justin Rose slumped to a 79.

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