Major winner Shaun Micheel rolled back the years as he fired a five-under-par opening round to lead after day one at the Spanish Open.
Former USPGA champion enjoys fast start at Spanish Open
Major winner Shaun Micheel rolled back the years as he fired a five-under-par opening round to lead after day one at the Spanish Open.
The American, who won the 2003 USPGA Championship, defied wet and windy conditions in Seville as he shot a 67 that left him one clear of his closest challengers at the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla.
Without a full card on the PGA Tour and down at 608th on the world rankings, the 43-year-old emerged as a surprise leader on the Jose Maria Olazabal-designed lay-out - although it could have been even better as he bogeyed his final hole.
The Orlando-based golfer, who earned a 10-year European Tour exemption for his shock victory at Oak Hill in 2003, was a stroke in front of English duo Robert Rock and Danny Willett and also Spaniard Jorge Campillo.
Italians start well
Tour rookie Matthew Baldwin was on his own in fifth at three-under, while a group of six players finished just one stroke further adrift including Italian duo Francesco Molinari and Matteo Manassero and Dubai Desert Classic winner Rafael Cabrera-Bello of Spain.
Rock, conqueror of Tiger Woods and world top three Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood in Abu Dhabi in January, eagled the 13th and 16th on his return to action after more than a month off.
Scotland's Paul Lawrie, who has the chance to go second in the Ryder Cup points race this week, managed only a 78 in front of captain Olazabal, himself round in 75.
Campillo, like Baldwin a graduate from the Challenge Tour last season, led the 30-strong home contingent on the 100th anniversary of the tournament and, more poignantly, the first anniversary of the death of Spanish legend Severiano Ballesteros.
Big-hitting Alvaro Quiros, winner on the course two years ago, shot 73 and 48-year-old Miguel Angel Jimenez, yet to win his national title, had a 75.
