Søren Kjeldsen was delighted to maintain momentum on day one of the Omega European Masters as he fired an opening 65 at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.
After a slow start to the season by his high standards, Kjeldsen has made ten of his last 12 cuts, with three closing rounds in the 60s at last week's Made in Denmark helping him secure a tie for 12th on home soil.
A bogey-free round in his first appearance at this event since 2014 moved the four-time European Tour winner to five under, and he was happy to stay on a roll in the mountains.
“I think last week was a great boost for me to play well the last three days in front of my home crowd,” he said. “It was really nice and I think the pleasing part today was that I continued that form.
“The game was great, obviously had a few problems a couple of times but managed to make good pars - most of it was solid.
“I think my driving has been better. Early part of the season I struggled a little with my back and couldn’t practice as much as I wanted and lost a little bit of confidence but it seems to be coming back a little bit now so its pleasing. I have been working hard.”
Andy Sullivan's season has almost been a reverse of Kjeldsen's, making his first 14 cuts with six top tens before missing his last three.
The Englishman took three weeks off after the US PGA Championship and he too was just a shot off the lead after an opening 65.
“After three weeks off it feels really good,” he said. “Got off to a really good start which is always nice and then finished with three good up-and-downs there to finish the round off when I thought like it was just getting away from me. So really pleased with that.
“I have been working really hard to getting back to where I was with the shape of the ball flight - it almost went to straight at one time - so I’ve gone back to trying to hit that two, three yard lemonade (fade) and it’s coming back slowly. I feel like I’ve got more control throughout the bag again and the scores are starting to show that this year.”
Frenchman Julien Guerrier was also at five under after he recovered from an opening bogey with an eagle and four birdies.
“It was very good,” he started. “I started with one bogey on the scorecard and after my game was very good.”
