Three's company for Madrid leaders
Paul Broadhurst, Marcus Fraser and Magnus A Carlsson all hit four under par 67s to share the lead at the Madrid Masters at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.
The trio ended the first day a shot better off than a group of five including home player Pablo Larrazabal, who compiled a three under 68.
Broadhurst started at the tenth and he picked up shots at the 15th and 18th on the way out.
He then birdied the short par three third and the 518 yard fourth.
Back to back bogeys at the fifth and sixth dropped the Englishman back but he birdied the seventh and par three ninth – his last – to go four under.
Broadhurst was happy to be leading but admitted his game was not pretty at times.
"I just stuck in there really and had to make a couple of miracle shots to keep it ticking over," he said.
"I had a couple of very poor tee shots on five and six but came back with another couple of birdies at the end and it's nice to finish four under.
"On the tenth, which was my first, I hit my tee shot into the trees but hit a great shot on to the green and managed to save par."
He added: "It doesn't get any easier even if you've been on The Tour for years and I'll be out practicing this afternoon."
Carlsson had a bogey and two birdies on his front nine.
But he didn’t drop a single shot on the way in and the Swede birdied the par five 14th.
That was followed by a spectacular eagle two at the par four 15th.
"The last few weeks I've been working a lot on my game and have started believing in myself," he said.
"I had a good start in January but then missed a lot of cuts.
"I lost a play-off in Johannesburg and I made the mistake of thinking it was going to be easy.
"So I'm very happy with this score today."
Fraser had a bogey free round, the Australian posting birdies at the fourth, eighth, 14th and par three 17th.
Larrazabal started at the tenth and eagled the 526 yard par five 14th before birdies at the 15th and 18th completed an outward four under 31.
He then dropped a shot at the par four first to be three under through ten.
The Spaniard dropped further shots at the third and fifth but birdies at the fourth and seventh kept him in contention.
"I started hitting the ball very well and didn't miss anything on the front nine," said Larrazabal.
"I made a few silly bogeys after that but overall I'm very happy with my score.
"To be under par after the first round gets you in contention."
England’s Steve Webster was also three under for the day after a round which contained five birdies and two bogeys.
Alongside Larrazabal and Webster were Sweden’s Steven Jeppesen, James Kamte of South Africa and Larrazabal’s compatriot Santiago Luna.
José María Olazábal - on his return from injury – shot a one under par 70.Return to Other Tours archives