EUROPEAN TOUR:PETER LAWRIE was quick off the mark on the opening day of the €2 million BMW Championship in Germany where he carded a six-under-par 66 to get within two shots of the overnight leaders, Welshman Bradley Dredge and Scotland's Peter Whiteford.
Lawrie enjoyed a flawless afternoon at Munchen Eichenried venue in Munich where four birdies and an eagle stood out on his card.
Having started on the back nine the Dubliner recorded a pair of twos at the short 12th and 17th before landing an eagle at the 18th to turn in four under 32.
He gleaned two further birdies on the front nine to be two off the joint lead held by Dredge and Whiteford, who both carded 64s.
Lawrie was joined by Simon Thornton, who also signed for a 66. The Tour School graduate opened with three birdies before a bogey at the fourth brought him back down to earth.
An immediate birdie and second bogey at the eighth brought the 33-year-old to the turn in two under.
The back nine contained only birdies and pars with shots picked up at 10, 11 and the 18th.
The 33-year-old, who was on the reserve list for this week’s event, must take advantage of the opportunities and has certainly gone the right way about it at this early stage.
Gary Murphy made a decent start with his two-under 70, to be one ahead of playing partners Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke plus Michael Hoey.
Damien McGrane was on the wrong side of par after a one-over 73, one better than Shane Lowry.
Playing partners, Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia, both had early trips to the water when they went for the green in two at the long 11th, their second hole.
While Els rallied to open with a 70, Garcia struggled badly and eventually signed for a disappointing five over 77.
The Spaniard, who a month ago in Madrid missed his first halfway cut on European soil for nearly six years, finished 22nd last week at Pebble Beach, but his problems continue.
Europe’s past and present Ryder Cup captains; Nick Faldo (76), Bernhard Langer (70) and Colin Montgomerie (70) were also in action, with the latter making a better fist of the Munich layout.
World number eight Paul Casey returned a 68.
Neither Dredge nor Whiteford were involved in the US Open, the second major of the year. They are 173rd and 203rd in the world respectively, but that still makes them higher-ranked than the four players who are their closest challengers overnight.
Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat is 287th, Dane Jeppe Huldahl 290th and Argentina’s Ariel Canete 448th, while Dredge’s compatriot Phillip Price, the other man to shoot 65, has dropped to 982nd in the rankings since his Ryder Cup triumph over Phil Mickelson eight years ago.
Dredge set the early target after turning in 33, making an eagle on the long 11th and then finishing with three birdies in a row.
The 36-year-old, whose last European Tour win came four years ago, said: “There was virtually no wind and the course was probably the easiest I’ve ever played it. I’m surprised there were not more low scores.
Whiteford graduated from the Challenge Tour for a second time at the end of last season, but has almost done enough already to secure his card for next year and was a runner-up in Malaga in March. The 29-year-old from Kirkcaldy eagled the 481-yard sixth and kept a bogey off his card just like Dredge.
