Garrido and Davies blaze the trail

SPANIARD Ignacio Garrido mastered a considerable climate change to tie the lead with Wales' Rhys Davies on seven under par before thunder halted play in the first round of the Malaysian Open.

In-form Thai Thongchai Jaidee was again on song as he shot a six-under 66 to lie a stroke behind, while Korean KJ Choi carded a 67 to lie two off the pace. Thirty players will return early today to finish their opening rounds at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.

For 1997 Ryder Cup winner Garrido, without a European Tour win since 2003, his round of 65 was a welcome return to form, especially given the stifling heat.

"For me to come here with all of the differences there are between here and Madrid where I have spent the last couple of months playing in the snow, then it is a very good score," he said.

Thongchai, who reached the quarter-finals of the WGC Matchplay Championship in Arizona last month, found the conditions equally stifling. "I enjoyed it out there but the weather was so hot," he said.

Davies, still buzzing after matching his career-high finish on the European Tour by claiming sixth in Abu Dhabi at the start of the year, blazed a flawless 65

which included a hat-trick of birdies on the front nine, sparked by a putt from off the green at the par-five fifth.

On a disappointing day for the seven Scots in the field, Dubai-based Ross Bain was the only one to break par. He had six birdies, including four in a row from the sixth, in a four-under 68 to lie inside the top ten.

David Drysdale and Simon Yates both signed for 72s, one better than Peter Whiteford, while Andrew Coltart was well down the field after a 76.

Steven O'Hara, two-over after 17 holes, and Stephen Gallacher, level-par with four holes to go, were among those who were unable to complete their opening rounds due to the weather.