England’s Lee Westwood began his defence of the MAPFRE Open de Andalucia by Valle Romano with a sparkling seven under par 65 at Aloha Golf Club to lead by a shot from English Amateur Danny Willett and Norway’s Jan-Are Larsen.
Willett, the world's number one ranked amateur having won the Spanish Amateur Championship earlier this year, marked his European Tour debut with two eagles in his opening seven holes and could have had a share of the lead but for a dropped shot on the final green for a six under par 66.
Likewise, Larsen also advanced to seven under with five birdies in seven holes on the back nine but bogeyed his penultimate hole for a 66.
Westwood didn’t put a foot wrong after flying back from America to defend the title before he returns across the Atlantic for the Masters Tournament in two weeks' time.
He began and finished with 18 foot birdie putts and had five more birdies in between.
"I didn't make too many mistakes and my course management was good," said Westwood, who a year ago won with a 20 under par total after starting with only a 72.
"I've got one eye on the Masters, but I didn't fancy another two-week stint in the States and nothing beats winning for confidence.
"I'm pleased with the way I'm hitting the ball, although my game is always a work in progress and there are a few things I'm working on at the moment."
Willett's recent Spanish Amateur title impressed the tournament sponsors enough to hand out an invitation to the 20 year old and he took immediate advantage by eagling his first hole.
"I was quite nervous for my first European Tour event," he said. "There was quite a bit of pressure to try to play well because of the invitation.
"The eagle took a lot of first-hole nerves away and relieved the pressure. I just enjoyed myself then."
Willett is now hoping to emulate the feat of Spain’s Pablo Martin, who last year became the only player to have won a European Tour event as an amateur when he captured the Estoril Open de Portugal.
Australian Matthew Millar lies two off the lead after a five under par 67 with three players tied at four under – Frenchman Christian Cevaer, Dutchman Maarten Lafeber and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlory.
