Ernie Els produced his lowest score in seven months on Thursday to storm to the front in the 25th anniversary BMW International Open in Munich.

The reigning British Open champion broke free from what he described as last week’s US Open ‘torture chamber’ at Merion to record an eagle and seven birdies in a 9-under 63 for the clubhouse lead in the European Tour event.

It is Els’ lowest round on either the European or PGA Tour since a similar score in the second round of last November’s WGC – HSBC Champions event in China.

“It was a very nice round and I haven’t shot that number for quite a while,” said the South African.

“Today was like walking out of the torture chamber that was last week’s US Open and walking onto a nice parkland golf course.

“Of course, you still have to hit the shots but I felt like I was starting to swing the club last weekend at Merion, and I’m lucky enough I could bring it here to Munich.”

Els arrived in the Bavarian capital having finished the US Open joint fourth at five over par behind England’s Justin Rose.

Els’s score is just one shot short of the German course record held by six players.

England’s Matthew Baldwin and Sweden’s Alex Noren are next best in the clubhouse on eight under par as the afternoon half of the field took to the Munchen Eichenried course.