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TURIN, Italy - Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin, so close to winning just the seventh European Tour event of his career in December, was in a class of his own when the BMW Italian Open began in Turin.

A course record 64 - seven under par - gave the 28 year old from Belfast a three stroke lead over Scot Richie Ramsay, France's Raphaël Jacquelin and England's Marcus Higley, while American John Daly would have been joint second as well but for two closing bogeys.

Maybin had an eight foot putt to take the South African Open Championship five months ago, but missed it and then lost a play-off to Richard Sterne.

"I was very disappointed at the time - any time you're beaten in a play-off you're not going to be too chuffed," said the Challenge Tour graduate.

"But I went home for Christmas and reflected on it. I looked at the names below me and a lot of them were highly ranked."

Among those Maybin finished ahead of were compatriot Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman.

After Ramsay had set the clubhouse target with a 67 - like Daly, he bogeyed the 17th and 18th - Maybin was still two behind when he turned in 34.

But he then followed birdies on the tenth and 12th with a 116 yard wedge into the cup for an eagle two at the next and another birdie came on the short 15th.

Even when he bogeyed two holes later he came straight back, hitting a five iron to six feet on the demanding 507 yard par four last.

Maybin played the Royal Park lay-out on the Challenge Tour last season, but that was hardly a confidence booster for him on his return. He missed the cut then.

Daly was annoyed at his finish, but after finishing last week's Open de España with a 69 the 43 year old drew positives from starting his second event back with the same score.

"I love the way I'm hitting the ball - I had a lot of opportunities out there," he said.

One bad swing put him in a bunker on the 17th, though, and he got a flyer from the rough at the last.

Ramsay shot to fame three years ago when he became the first Scot since 1898 to win the US Amateur Championship crown.

As a result of that he partnered Phil Mickelson in the Masters Tournament, Tiger Woods at the US Open Championship and Padraig Harrington in the opening two rounds of The Open Championship at Carnoustie - the week that changed the Dubliner's life, of course.

"There's a common factor in all of them - they're lethal with the short game," said the 25 year old from Aberdeen.

"They're not the straightest drivers in the world, but they know how to get the ball in the hole.

"Some of Mickelson's shots were unbelievable and I was about to start applauding until I realised I was playing with him.

"It's probably a bitter-sweet feeling," he added.

"The way I played I felt I could have opened a gap, but my short game is a weakness."

He bogeyed the last two after going just over the green both times.

Higley has made no fewer than 12 trips to The European Tour Qualifying School - and has failed every time. But he has twice come through The Challenge Tour and two years ago was joint runner-up in the St Omer Open.

Four time European Tour winner Jacquelin displayed his quality with six birdies and just two bogeys.