The good fortunes of Graeme McDowell continue this week in the South of Spain where an opening round of 68 held the lead in the clubhouse for most of the afternoon at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters - on 3 under - only for Pablo Larrazabal to birdie two of his last three holes to set the pace at 5 under.
Damien McGrane joins the Portrush man in a share of second place after he carded three birdies on Thursday – without loss.
Gareth Maybin is one shot further back in share of fourth with Shiv Kapur of India after an opening round of 69 with the Ballyclare golfer focused on the reaching the final event of the season in Dubai by improving his current 58th place.
Michael Hoey is one under par after a round of 70.
A further nine players went round in 70, including Italy’s Francesco Molinari, England’s John Parry - who double bogeyed the last - and Spaniards Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Raphael Jacquelin had appeared likely to be among the front-runners as he moved to four under through 13 holes, but the Frenchman was to finish on level par after running up a triple bogey seven at the 16th and dropping a further shot at the last.
England’s Ross Fisher double bogeyed the last to also finish level par - having led earlier in the day with McDowell.
Darren Clarke is one over after carding a 72 on day one.
Dubliner Peter Lawrie was another of the early starters and carded consecutive birdies on his first three holes – before a bogey on the 4th – only to recover the shot on the tenth green to go back to 3 under par – and lead the event.
However four dropped shots - following double bogeys on the fourteenth and infamous 17th - saw him fall to one over par in a tie for 29th place.
Martin Kaymer ended the day on one over also with three consecutive bogeys from the 11th proving a significant setback in his chase for a top two finish on Sunday.
Shane Lowry is two over par after signing for a round of 73.
Paul McGinley is three over par after signing for a 74.
