At the event played on three famous seaside links, headed by St Andrews Old Course, world No.1007 John cashed in on perfect conditions at the easiest of the trio, Kingsbarns, to shoot a 10-under par 62.
Still, disappointingly for the Victorian, it wasn’t quite enough to help him grab the lead on Thursday as South Africa’s Darren Fichardt at one point threatened to card only the second 59 in European Tour history before settling for a 61, also at Kingsbarns.
At the venue just seven miles down the coast from St Andrews, John enjoyed a remarkable day, recording nine birdies and an eagle two at the short 339-yard par-four sixth hole.
Like Fichardt, he too could momentarily dream of threatening the magical 60 barrier when he covered the first 12 holes in eight under, but his one blemish of the day, a bogey five at the 14th, ruined that particular fantasy.
Still, John birdied the final three holes and will be in good heart to tackle the tougher challenges of British Open courses, St Andrews and Carnoustie, over the next two days, with the final round to be played on the Old Course on Sunday.
“I obviously took advantage of the fact that it wasn’t that windy out here. We had a practice round on Monday, and it was the first time I had seen the course, and I was like, wow, this place is pretty brutal,” said John.
“I rocked up today and I was like, everyone else is going to go low, then I got pretty aggressive and hit a lot of good shots, and obviously managed to roll some putts in.”
It’s been a big year for John, who won his first professional tournament, The National, in Victoria on the Australasia Tour in March.
“I’ve played the odd Asian Tour event and co-sanctioned European Tour event, but the majority in Australia,” he explained.
“I’ve played some pretty awesome golf in the last 12 months, and I just felt like coming out here and it was like, we’ll see what happens.”
The Dunhill event also pairs tour players in a Pro-Am team event, with John evidently inspired by being partnered by Neil Coulson, CEO of the St Andrews Links Trust, the charity in charge of the historic Old Course.
Another Australian, European Tour regular David Micheluzzi fired a bogey-free 64 at Kingsbarns with eight birdies to lie joint-sixth.
New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier returned a 63 at St Andrews while LIV stars Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton carded the lowest rounds of the day at Carnoustie with 65s.
Playing alongside his dad Gerry, Rory McIlroy shot 69 at Carnoustie. “It’s my dad’s 65th birthday on Saturday so to be able to stroll around the Old Course with him is going to be a pretty cool occasion,” the Northern Irish superstar said.
Among the celebrities on show – the Links Championship always attracts its A-listers desperate to play the Old Course – no-one looked happier than Hollywood superstar Michael Douglas when he sank a long birdie putt at Carnoustie.
Surfing ‘GOAT’ Kelly Slater has often been regarded as a lucky mascot by the pros as he’s previously partnered two players who went on to win the championship. Certainly, Australian Matt Jones hopes so, though he only shot a level-par 72 for openers at Carnoustie alongside the 11-time world champ.
