Former Ryder Cup winner Thomas Bjorn shared the first round lead at the Danish Open on Thursday with Chilean golfer Felipe Aguilar and Welshman Bradley Dredge on five under par.

Home favourite Bjorn, who was part of the Ryder Cup winning teams in 1997 and 2002, as well as finishing runner-up at the British Open in 2000 and 2003, enjoyed five birdies during a bogey-free round as he delighted the home fans at the Himmerland Golf and Spa resort in Aalborg,

“It was a tricky day with the wind, especially on my back nine. But I drove the ball really well and that gives you opportunities on this golf course,” said Bjorn, who is on the verge of sealing a place in Paul McGinley’s European Ryder Cup team to play the USA at Gleneagles in September.

“So I’m happy with the day, happy with the start and it was pretty solid all the way round.”

Aguilar, who is chasing a third European victory but has slipped to 137 in the world, rode a run of three straight birdies on the back nine to also card a score of 66 on the par-71 layout.

Dredge, 41, a two-time European Tour winner, overcame a second hole bogey to rattle home five birdies on his last seven holes to share the lead with Bjorn and Aguilar after 18 holes.

Home player Thorbjorn Olesen was in second place on 69, three shots off the pace.