Round one of the 2011 TEG at Royal Ashdown Forest's Old Course split the field cleanly into the fortunate and the doomed. Henry Meller's afternoon was defined by a single number. He took 12 at the short par-3 11th, stroke index 3 and one of the hardest holes on the course. Nine over par. It was his own worst hole, and the worst posted anywhere in TEG history to that point. A double bogey at the 7th had already deposited him at the bottom of the 2011 TEG Wooden Spoon field, so the 11th was less a collapse than a confirmation. He closed the round anchored there.

David Mullin began no better. A triple bogey at the 5th sent him to the very bottom of the Spoon standings, which by then was becoming a crowded address. He replied twice, breaking bogey-or-worse runs with birdies at the 10th and the 13th, and by the close of play he led the 2011 TEG Green Jacket. Jon Baker sat atop the 2011 TEG Trophy standings.

Gregg Williams's opening round at Royal Ashdown Forest had two moods and no middle. It began badly. From the 2nd to the 6th he shipped 13 gross shots, the centrepiece being a quadruple bogey 8 at the par-4 4th. The 4th is the easiest hole on the course. The run also left him three holes without a net par and dropped him to the bottom of the TEG 4 Wooden Spoon race.

Then, briefly, order. A bogey at the 7th ended the run of bogeys-or-worse. A birdie at the 8th completed the rescue and sent him to the outright lead of the TEG 4 Trophy on net scoring. For a short while, Gregg Williams was the best golfer in the tournament.

It did not survive the back nine. From the 10th to the 18th he bled 22 shots, four doubles and three triples among them, with bogey-or-worse at the 14th, the hardest hole out there. He finished with the worst gross score of the round. The lead had been a rumour, and the rumour was corrected.