Day one digest: Omega European Masters

Everything you need to know from Thursday in the stunning Swiss mountains.

The stunning scenery often steals the show at the Omega European Masters but it was a lot more than just a pretty face on day one.

Here is everything you need to know from Thursday at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.

Schwab and MLV battle it out at the top

Their preparations for this week may have been different but the results were very similar for Mike Lorenzo-Vera and Matthias Schwab. The Austrian had four weeks off during which time he had a break and he arrived in Switzerland refreshed and with the advantage of having played lots of mountain golf at altitude. The Frenchman had five weeks off during which time he got married, moved house and revealed that regular chats with his psychologist proved a major help. The duo both signed for opening rounds of 63 and head into day two a shot ahead of Lorenzo Gagli, Mikko Korhonen and Sebastian Soderberg.

McIlroy backs himself for Number One

The last of Rory McIlroy's 95 weeks at Number One on the Official World Golf Ranking ended on September 19, 2015 but the Northern Irishman is determined to get back into the top spot soon. In the 11 years since he finished runner up here as a 19-year-old rookie, McIlroy has won four Major Championships and nine other European Tour titles, helping him to three Race to Dubai crowns. A victory on the US PGA Tour on Sunday has moved him back up to World Number Two and he is in no doubt about where he should be. "I feel like when I'm playing my best I'm the best player in the world," he said after an opening 67 in Switzerland. There are many who would agree.

Korhonen flying high

An eagle is a rare bird on the golf course. An eagle on a par four is even rarer still. So when Korhonen recorded two eagles on par fours on Thursday, he must have been pinching himself, even more so when you consider the first came after a run of birdie-birdie-birdie-birdie-double bogey. "I holed a couple of times from the fairway with eagles on seven and 17, so it was quite a round," he said. "On the previous hole I had four shots from 12 feet to make double. I had two bogeys and a double and still shot 64, so I have to be happy with that." It's never dull when Mikko is around.

Putting pontoon for Fleetwood

There is nothing unusual with a golfer changing his putter but Tommy Fleetwood's this week was a £90 second hand purchase by his caddie off eBay. It is the same type as Fleetwood used growing up but has been regripped and shafted by bagman Ian Finnis and seemed to do the trick as the Englishman took just 21 putts in shooting a 65. "Finno keeps saying it's his but I'm sure it was a gift," said Fleetwood.

Miguel produces mountain magic

There have been few greater entertainers in European Tour history than Miguel Ángel Jiménez and even at the ripe old age of 55 he was at it again on Thursday. In his 103rd round at Crans-sur-Sierre, the 2010 champion produced this - cue the trademark celebrations.

Former champions love Crans Montana

Jiménez owns a house in our host town and so does 2005 champion Sergio Garcia. Lee Westwood - the 1999 winner - still comes back in the winter and Luke Donald claimed the second of his European Tour wins here in 2004. Add in 2006 champ Bradley Dredge and we have five previous winners within four shots of the lead.