EDDIE Pepperell endured a tough opening round in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The Abingdon golfer, playing at Kingsbarns, carded a three-over-par 74.

Pepperell dropped his first shot at the par-three 13th – his fourth hole – before his round really suffered with three successive bogeys in the second half of his round.

His only birdie came on his penultimate hole.

The Frilford Heath member tees off at 9am at Carnoustie tomorrow, before playing at St Andrews on Saturday.