FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD GB&Ire unless stated -6 R Goosen (SA) -5 J Daly (US), D Lynn, C Montgomerie, P O'Malley (Aus) -4 A Cejka (Ger), L Donald, R Jacquelin (Fra), MA Jimenez (Spa), M Jonzon (Swe) Clubhouse scores

But Ryder Cup wild card hopefuls Colin Montgomerie, Luke Donald and Alex Cejka are all in contention.

Montgomerie is one shot off the pace, while Donald and Cejka both shot 68 for a tie of sixth place.

Paul Casey, a favourite for one of the four automatic spots left in the European team, is on three under.

Big-hitting American John Daly is tied for second alongside Montgomerie, England's David Lynn and Australia's Peter O'Malley.

Montgomerie was full of praise for caddie Alistair McLean, the man on his bag for all seven of his European Order of Merit successes, who has rejoined him after an absence of two years.

"I've changed my putting grip to a lighter one but the main reason for my confident start is my caddie," Montgomerie said.

I'm not getting ahead of myself because there is a lot of water to go under the bridge yet Paul McGinley

"It was right to part when we did because we'd got a bit stale, but now I'm confident with club selection, course management, my all-round game."

He was also supportive of Donald and said: "He's under a lot more pressure than me for the wild card because he's a rookie and has to prove himself."

Paul McGinley, who is currently in the final automatic qualifying spot for the European Ryder Cup team, is on two under.

"I don't want to go down the road of relying on a pick," McGinley said of his Ryder Cup aspirations.

"I'm expecting players like Joakim Haeggman to make a charge. I'm not getting ahead of myself because there is a lot of water to go under the bridge yet."

David Howell and Ian Poulter, who are currently eighth and ninth in the table respectively, both shot 73 to lie one over for the tournament.

Of the players who have already claimed their places in the European team Miguel Angel Jimenez is four under par and Sergio Garcia one under.

Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington are all level par for the tournament, while assistant European captain Haeggman is three under.

Haeggman needs a minimum fifth-place finish to make the team as a player, as does Fredrik Jacobson, who could only manage a 71.

Brian Davis, who is chasing a fourth-placed finish, carded a 72, while Jean-Francois Remesy saw his hopes fade as his 74 saw him well off the pace he needs if he is to finish in the top seven.

Long shots Raphael Jacquelin, who needs a minimum of second, and Graeme McDowell, who has to win to make the team, shot 68 and 72 respectively.