Matt Wallace refused to be blown off course and enjoyed a rewarding day with the putter as he ended the opening day of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in a share of the lead.

On a day of high winds and very difficult scoring conditions, the Moor Park star carded a four-under par 68 on the Old Course at St Andrews to sit joint top alongside Australian Marcus Fraser.

With only 24 players in the 168-strong field breaking par, the 28-year made six birdies in the opening round of the eagerly-anticipated pro-am event that sees players alternate between St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns before the cut falls at the end of Saturday’s third round.

Having dropped a shot at the par four fourth, this year’s three-time European Tour winner responded with three successive birdies and then moved to three-under for the day with a three at the par four ninth.

Birdie five followed at the par five 14th and although Wallace slipped back with a second bogey of the day at 15, a three at the last saw him finish at four-under.

The world number 59 is being partnered by American surf star Kelly Slater and the pair are usefully placed in the team competition, ending the first day in a share of 11th on six-under-par, three off the lead.

Moor Park club-mate Callum Shinkwin struggled in the conditions though, carding a six-over-par 78 around Carnoustie.