Australia’s Marcus Fraser fired an eight under par 64 to clinch a share of the lead after the first round of the BMW International on Thursday.
Fraser, a two-time European Tour winner, saw his round matched by Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti while Ireland’s former Ryder Cup vice captain Paul McGinley and English pair Danny Willett and Chris Wood were a shot off the pace.
“It’s great. I played really well – drove the ball really straight, only missed one fairway,” said the 33-year-old Fraser, who hit five birdies in the last six holes.
“The greens were nice this morning and I managed to make a few putts and especially a few at the end, which was great.
“On 17 I just missed the left edge, so could have been six. But that’s always the story; we’re never happy. I played really well and gave myself a lot of chances so it was nice to roll a few in.”
Colin Montgomerie, back from television commentary work on the US Open in San Francisco, shot 69.
But local favourite Martin Kaymer struggled with jet-lag.
“I only slept for two hours,” said Kaymer who carded a 71, the same as Sergio Garcia.