Archer looking for maiden title

Abu Dhabi: First day leader Philip Archer is still in pursuit of his first European Tour win but the man from Warrington is quite popular and recognised by golf fans as 'Mr 60'.

Archer, who narrowly missed becoming the first to card a 59 in official European Tour Competition, said fans in the US Open as well as in South Africa, call him 'Mr 60' after his course record score of 60 in the first round of the Wales Open at Celtic Manor in New Port.

"When I qualified for the US Open a lot of people called me 'Mr 60' in the crowd," said Archer, who scored a nine under par 63 to finish on top after day one in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

Archer came agonisingly close to recording a 59 when his birdie putt from seven feet on the 18th lipped out to leave nine under par 60.

"I came really close to a magical score.

"But it was as if I had done something wrong in the paper the next day, I couldn't get my head around it," said Archer, adding that he didn't let that miss affect him.

Another nine under par display yesterday and hopefully a few more good rounds could see him landing his maiden win here.

And fellow Englishman Nick Dougherty, who played the round with Archer, felt that way.

"Phil played awesome. You watch him play and it is top draw.

"He's as good as any of the other guys," said Dougherty, who struck form with a six under par 66.