BMW International Open: Flying start for Els

Ernie Els took the lead in the first round of the BMW International Open yesterday after an eagle and seven birdies steered him to a nine-under 63.

The South African almost had a second eagle at the last that would have equalled a course record. Still, he was content with a two-putt birdie that gave him a one-stroke lead.

“It doesn’t really mean much until Sunday. But getting into the race early on is nice,” Els said.

Matthew Baldwin, of England, Sweden’s Alex Noren, Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen and Germany’s Martin Kaymer, who delighted the home crowd in the afternoon by finishing with three successive birdies, and nine in all, have a share of 
second place after carding 64s.

“I had a lot of chances on the back nine and I pretty much made all of them,” said Kaymer, who won this tournament in 2008.

Baldwin and Noren both had eight birdies in the morning, while Derksen had six, as well as an eagle in the afternoon.

English pair Matthew Nixon and Tom Lewis, along with Alexander Levy of France, are tied for sixth, one stroke further back. “Hats off, it was just everything went right, holed a lot of putts and that’s that, really,” Nixon said. “I had two eagles and my dad is always telling me I’m rubbish at par-5s, so hopefully he’ll feel better about that.”

Els finished tied for fourth at the US Open last week and had a share of sixth place at the Wentworth Club in his previous two tournaments. “I’ve really been working hard at my game,” the 43-year-old said. “I could feel that things were coming around a bit. I’ve had a bit of an iffy year up to now, but I really feel that my swing feels good and my body feels good, so I can swing the club properly.”

Els started at the tenth and fired five birdies in the outward 31. He holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the short second, before doing brilliantly on the par-5 sixth. Despite finding himself in the rough facing a flag guarded by water, he drove the ball almost 250 yards to within five feet of the hole, before putting for the eagle. “It’s just a pleasure to play, not to go through a torture chamber like I did at the US Open,” he added.

American Dustin Johnson was among a group of ten to finish with 6-under 66s, including South Africa’s Brandon Stone on his professional debut. “I drove it well, hit it well. I holed a couple putts but I missed quite a few short ones,” said Johnson, who managed six birdies.

David Drysdale and Scott Jamieson finished the day as top Scots after both shot four-under 68s, with Callum Macaulay a stroke further back, Colin Montgomerie on one under, Marc Warren, Peter Whiteford and Chris Doak all on level par, Gary Orr on one over and Scott Henry three over.