Spanish Open: Chris Wood, the English 21-year-old who as an amateur finished a spectacular fifth in last summer's British Open at Birkdale, shone again today on a course which brings back more happy memories.

While American John Daly was level par after the opening nine holes of his first competitive round since December, Wood began the Spanish Open at PGA Golf Catalunya with three birdies in his first six holes.

The lay-out is the one where the 6ft 5in player also finished fifth in last November’s European Tour qualifying school, opening the door to his rookie season on the money-spinning circuit.

At three-under, his start made him joint leader with the Scottish duo of Paul Lawrie and Chris Doak along with Charl Schwartzel, Jose Manuel Lara and Erik Tage Johansen.

Daly, given a six-month US Tour ban in November after being put in jail to sober up, underwent lap-band stomach surgery two months ago and has already brought his weight down from 20 stones to just over 16.

He is in Europe for the next month and will also take part in the Irish Open at Baltray, but despite failing to birdie the two par fives on the back nine, made a solid start.

In the group behind, Colin Montgomerie ran up a bogey six by three-putting the 527-yard 12th — he was disturbed by a marshal in a buggy before playing a weak chip — but birdied the next to return to level par.

Spanish star Miguel Angel Jimenez was down on one-over. Jimenez’s bogey came on the 397-yard 13th when he had to put on waterproofs and roll up one trouser leg to play a shot from the edge of the lake short of the green.

He got the ball out, but could not get it close to the flag and missed the putt.