Sweden’s Robert Karlsson and Mark Roe of England were in flawless form at Club de Campo as they swept into a share of the lead after the first round of the Open de Madrid.
Had it not been for preferred lies in operation, the eight under par 63s recorded by the pair would have equalled the course record. However wet underfoot conditions meant that ‘lift and place’ rules were in operation in the Spanish capital.
Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke, who has played a limited schedule this year due to his wife’s illness, also compiled an error-free round, his seven under par 64 being good enough to share third place with Frenchman Raphaël Jacquelin.
Roe, embarking on his sixth century of tournaments after playing his 500th on The European Tour, has only once finished outside the top 115 on the Order of Merit in 20 seasons on Tour, wielded his long putter to excellent effect. After a steady start, the 42 year old Yorkshireman collected eight birdies in 15 holes, including four in the last six.
Roe climbed to 107th in the Order of Merit after tying for fourth at last week's Abama Open de Canarias, nine spots into the ‘safety zone’ to avoid losing his playing privileges card for the first time.
"I've never lost my card in 20 years and I'm very proud I can say that at the age of 42," said Roe, a three time winner on The European Tour. "So I won't be resting on my laurels.
"Last week playing my 500th Tour event was a milestone and I was able to celebrate with my best finish for two years but I came here intent on improving my position.
"I missed my twins' fifth birthday last week but it might be the key that opens the door to a good season next year."
Playing the course the other way around, Karlsson also secured a quartet of birdies in each half to launch his bid for a first European Tour title since winning the 2002 Omega European Masters.
He said: “I did not expect to play this well today, especially with the rain, but I hit the ball solid, had my chances and putted well. Everything seemed to be working for me.
"However, golf is unpredictable - who knows what´s going to happen tomorrow?”
Clarke, who finished tied seventh in the dunhill links championship in Scotland, accepted an invitation to play in Madrid and was rewarded with a his seven-birdie round. Clarke admitted he “felt like a rookie” every time he tees up at the moment due to his sporadic starts. He said: “I haven’t played as much as I normally do, for obvious reasons, but when I do can’t wait to get out and practice and play.”
Jacquelin went to the turn in 31 thanks to a haul of five birdies and picked up further strokes at the 14th and the last to match Clarke’s total.
Spain’s five-time Major Champion, Seve Ballesteros, battled to a six over par 77 in his first tournament appearance for two years. Ballesteros, who has regained fitness after a long struggle with back and knee problems, mixed two double bogeys with five dropped shots and three birdies at a wet and overcast Club de Campo.
After teeing off at the par four tenth, Ballesteros dropped three strokes in his first two holes on his way to an outward nine of six over 41. However, the 48 year old Spaniard, who last played in a stroke play event at this tournament in 2003, upped his game after the turn.
He offset a bogey at the second with a birdie at the fourth, produced a couple of par saving putts from ten feet and picked up his third shot of the day at the par five seventh. Although he missed a four footer for par at the eighth, he completed the nine in level par 36.
"The problem was the first three holes. I didn't feel comfortable and was a bit tense. That made the rest of the day difficult, but I played well on the back nine and started feeling like I did before I played. Everything was fine until I walked onto the first tee and started to get a bit tight."
