Andrew Johnston was looking forward to getting back into the swing of regular life after carding an opening 66 at the 2021 BMW International Open.
The Englishman admitted he initially struggled with life in the Covid-19 bubble last season as the European Tour resumed after the hiatus with the UK Swing, although he achieved his best finish of the 2020 Race to Dubai with a tie for third at the Celtic Classic.
His start to the 2021 campaign was then derailed when he had to withdraw from the first Rolex Series event at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and self isolate after being a contact of someone who tested positive for Covid-19.
He took a long break after the Desert Swing but then enjoyed a good run in the Canary Islands, finishing fourth at the Canary Islands Championship for his best finish of the season so far.
A bogey free 66 in round one at Golfclub München Eichenried has seen him maintain his solid form and, while he admits 2021 has not been the easiest, he is relishing society and golf's gradual return to normality.
It’s been a bit stop start and hopefully now we can be a bit more consistent
"It’s been interesting, it’s been difficult this year," he said.
"It was probably the most I ever prepared for the Middle East events and then I got locked in the room in Abu Dhabi, which made it very difficult and I felt like I had taken two or three steps backwards from there, and that was hard.
"Then after a big break going into the Canary Islands, I was really happy coming out the way I played those four events, finishing at the British Masters.
"It’s been a bit stop start and hopefully now we can be a bit more consistent with tournaments, not too much changing of timing of events. That’s been the hard thing, but it’s been alright, I just need to keep playing. I need to play events."
Australian Min Woo Lee was also at six under and he was happy to see his hard work paying off.
"I’m very pleased, I had the ball on a string," he said. "I made a couple of mistakes, if I cleaned those up it could have been a lower round, but I’m very happy with myself.
"It’s nice when you’re hitting it straight and still as long. Had a few shorter clubs in than the others. So, it was nice to hit them pretty close and make some birdies.
"My swing wasn’t too good earlier in the year. My coach and I changed a bit of my swing for the better and I think it’s starting to show now. Played pretty good in Denmark and I think my form is pretty good, just haven’t been able to finish a round properly. It was nice to finish one well."
