Scots veteran Andrew Oldcorn feared he had lost his rhythm for a Scottish Senior Open title tilt.

But the former PGA champ got himself back in the groove during a battling first round at Archerfield Links.

Oldcorn, a winner on the European Senior Tour in Germany last month, posted a four-under 68 to finish five shots behind early leader Ronan Rafferty, who blasted a sparkling 63.

The 56-year-old said: “I would have snapped your hand off if you had offered me 68 on the range before my round because I warmed up very poorly.

“My timing was all out of sync and it was only on the back nine when I finally got any sort of rhythm in my irons.

“So all in all, I have to be pretty happy given the way I was feeling. I felt so uncomfortable and out of sorts but still managed a 68. I would’ve taken that at the start. I could have played a whole lot better than that and shot more. That’s just how stupid this game is.”

Oldcorn, who has broken 70 just once in 18 rounds at the Scottish Senior Open down the years, highlighted his round with a 4-iron into a couple of inches at the sixth for an eagle.

He added: “The win in Germany last month gave me a big lift. I wouldn’t have shot this score six weeks ago. It would’ve been a 74 or a 75.”

Irishman Rafferty, the former European No 1 who played in the 1989 Ryder Cup, surged to the front with a superbly assembled card which included a pair of eagles at the sixth and the 16th.

On the local front, Paisley duo Stephen McAllister and Ross Drummond both opened with level-par 72s.