Two-time Order of Merit winner Goosen carded seven birdies

The Order of Merit winner for the last two years carded a six-under-par 66 to join Alastair Forsyth and Phillip Price at the top of the leaderboard.

Scotland's Forsyth birdied the last three holes in a bogey-free round for his share of the revised course record, while Ryder Cup hero Price played the four par-fives in four under to join him in the K Club's record books.

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke, one of five players a shot further back, famously fired a 60 here in 1999, but the course has since been lengthened making 67 the official record before today's fireworks.

Alongside Clarke on five under are Scotland's Andrew Coltart, Ireland's Gary Murphy, Denmark's Soren Hansen and early leader Fredrik Andersson of Sweden.

EUROPEAN OPEN LEADERBOARD (GB&Ire unless stated) -6 R Goosen (SA), P Price, A Forsyth -5 F Andersson (Swe), D Clark, A Coltart, G Murphy, S Hansen (Den) -4 G Evans, M McNulty (Zim), C Montgomerie Clubhouse scores

Colin Montgomerie is in a group on four under with England's Gary Evans and Zimbabwean veteran Mark McNulty.

Montgomerie carded his only bogey on the par-four 9th, his 18th, but the Scot's round could have been so much better as his flawless play from tee to green was often let down by a cool putter.

Even his final-hole bogey was slightly unlucky. His drive caught the top of a tree and he was left with an almost unplayable second shot at the tree's base.

Montgomerie, who turned 40 last week, said: "I am very, very anxious to do very well and I'm looking forward to the next three days. I feel I can win this.

"The last was unfortunate, but overall I can only say that was a good round."

Local favourite Padraig Harrington, the bookies' tip for the �333,330 first prize, made a fast start with two birdies in the first three holes but then found himself on the clock for slow play.

It will be tight for the next three days and I don't think anyone's going to run away with it Retief Goosen

By the time he reached the 18th - his ninth - Harrington and playing partners Philip Golding and Thomas Bjorn had fallen a hole behind the group ahead and as a consequence were being timed by a tour referee.

Two bad times result in a one-stroke penalty, but the referee's presence hurried them along.

Harrington, joint runner-up last year after finding the lake on the last, then went into reverse as bogeys on the 2nd, 3rd and 6th dragged him back to one over par, six shots off the lead.

But the 31-year-old Dubliner, who would retake the lead in the Order of Merit from Ernie Els with a top-two finish on Sunday, refused to blame the referee's attention for his uncharacteristically sloppy play.

"It was no problem. Normally I play a little bit better when I'm on the clock," he said.

"I was lacking a bit of short game focus after two weeks off. I read the greens poorly, threw in a couple of three-putts and missed a lot of chances."

Clarke shot hits Leaney's wife

Golding, who claimed his first tour victory in 201 starts at the French Open last week, found the K Club more challenging as he stumbled to a six-over-par 78.

Golding was not the only player to struggle, as Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam could do no better than 75s, Justin Rose carded a 76, Trevor Immelman a 78 and Ian Poulter a 79.

Philip Walton, who had former Republic of Ireland striker Niall Quinn on his bag, did marginally better with a 74, but will still have his work cut out to make Friday's cut.