ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — Casey Jarvis of South Africa holed out for eagle on his first hole and used the brilliant start to post a 7-under 65 on the Old Course on Saturday, giving him a two-shot lead in the Dunhill Links Championship as he goes for his third European tour title of the year.

Jarvis played bogey-free on a breezy day at the home of golf, and didn't make a birdie putt longer than 6 feet in keeping his distance against the field.

Jarvis was at 18-under 198.

Adrian Meronk of Poland, one of 22 players from LIV Golf in the field, birdied his opening four holes at Kingsbarns and had an eagle late in his round of 63. He was two shots behind with Matthew Jordan of England, who shot a 66 at Kingsbarns.

Thomas Detry of Belgium, another LIV player, was a further shot back after a 65 at St. Andrews.

Jarvis began his round on the 10th hole, and watched his wedge land about 6 feet beyond the hole and spin back into the cup. He followed that with a tee shot over the Strath bunker to 4 feet on the par-3 11th. When he two-putted for birdie on the 14th, he already was 5 under through five holes.

“I know I’m going to be feeling pressure tomorrow,” said Jarvis, who won the Kenya Open and South African Open in consecutive weeks in February. “I have won twice this year. So I kind of know how to deal with it a little better. I still know I’m going to feel first tee nerves and pressure throughout the day.”

Matt Fitzpatrick, coming off a victory last week in France, also got off to a great start with six birdies in his opening seven holes. He was even par the rest of the way — two birdies to go with two bogeys — for a 66 and wound up six shots behind, along with defending champion Robert MacIntyre (68).

Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka shot 70 on the Old Course and was eight back.

The final round is at St. Andrews.

“Every golfer dreams of taking a lead, playing the Old Course on Sunday,” Jarvis said. “I got goosebumps right now just standing here. I just can’t wait for tomorrow. Even if I don’t win, to be taking the lead, I’m just going to enjoy it as much as I can.”

The cut was at 6-under 136. Tyrrell Hatton and Cam Smith, who won the British Open at St. Andrews in 2022, were among 14 players from LIV who missed the cut.

Meronk said he plans to play every week he can on the European tour with hopes of finishing high enough in the Race to Dubai to secure his card for 2027 and keep his options open depending on what happens with LIV.

“I’ve been playing really well the last couple of weeks. Just didn’t get the full results,” Meronk said. “Hopefully, this is the week. But just play my game tomorrow and see what happens at the end.”

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