Scottish Open: Stephen Gallacher satisfied after day in Molinari's shadow STEPHEN Gallacher, among a posse of Scots to open with respectable 68s at Castle Stuart, reckons his effort was made to look ordinary by playing partner Francesco Molinari. "I was four-under yet it felt like four-over playing alongside Frankie," mused Gallacher of a score that was matched later in the day by Marc Warren, Gary Orr and Martin Laird. Admitting he'd been "dragged along" by the Italian pacesetter, the Scot picked up four birdies in five holes from the second - his 11th - to get to five-under before dropping a shot at the short eighth. "It's a pleasing start, though I would have been a bit happier with five-under," he added. I tried to force one into the eighth and turn it into the gap, but pushed it into the hay. I chipped it to five feet but my putt horseshoed the hole. It was fractions. If it [the tee shot] lands and kicks left, it's stiff, but it kicked up and wasn't. Gallacher is among a clutch of Scots bidding to gain the one spot up for grabs here in next week's Open Championship, that prize going to the leading non-exempt player in the top five on Sunday. And, although he's hoping the wind might blow to stiffen up the challenge over the next three days, he was pleased to see Castle Stuart enjoy a relatively rain-free day for the start of this year's event. "It's the first time in about four weeks that I have not had waterproofs on," he declared. It was as easy as you are ever going to play here. We had the first three holes downwind and then the wind dropped. You can't get any better than that. Warren had also moved to five-under after an eagle-3 at the sixth - his 15th - before finishing with a bogey-5. "It was a disappointing way to finish but I didn't feel I was playing that well today, so it was good to shoot four-under," said the East Kilbride man. I think we got a good draw. In the middle of the round, the wind died down and the course was definitely there for the taking. In contrast, Orr and Laird both staged strong finishes to join their compatriots in the group sitting on 68, six behind Molinari. "I could have been better than four-under as I hit a few putts that didn't drop, but I have to be happy with it," said Orr after he signed off with a birdie at the 18th. The Helensburgh veteran added: "I'm pretty happy with the way I've been playing recently. I'm driving it well and, by keeping out of the long stuff, I'm giving myself chances. Playing the course the same way around in the company of Phil Mickelson and Paul Lawrie, Laird was four-under after six, dropped a couple of shots in the middle of his round then birdied two of the last three. "Having been four under after six, I could maybe have hoped for even better," admitted the US-based player. But, in the end, to birdie two of the last three holes pleases me. Four Scots guys are three back from second place and that's a good position to be in. Playing with Phil is always fun as I have done so a few times on the PGA Tour. Playing with Paul as well made it great because all of the crowds were out there cheering for us. Lawrie, who had his eldest son Craig caddying for him, started birdie-birdie but was left bemoaning his putting after matching Mickelson's 73. Renowned for his short game, the Scot couldn't believe either that he'd duffed a chip at the third. "I can't play any worse than that and can't putt any worse," said Lawrie. I also don't think I've ever duffed a little pitch like that at the third - it was the weirdest thing. I imagine the cut will be three or four-under, so I need a good round tomorrow. But I've done that before. Scott Jamieson, who tied for third last year to earn a spot in The Open, opened with a 69, as did Steven O'Hara, who has already secured his spot at Royal Lytham. David Drysdale, who has finished in the top 15 in four of his last five events, had to settle for a 70 after coming home in level-par. Alongside him are amateur Jack McDonald, Craig Lee and Sandy Lyle, the two-time major champion covering his last 13 holes in two-under. Rookie James Byrne had a mixed bag in his 71, one less than David Law, who was three-under after 11, then dropped three shots in the next three holes before rallying with a last-hole birdie. But it was a day to forget for Michael Stewart, the third of the first-year Scottish professionals handed invitations for the event, as an 80 left him in last place in the 156-strong field.