FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD: (GB & Ire unless stated)
-8 R Goosen (SA) -6 R Finch Selected others: -5 Coltart, Lynn, Price, Willet -4 B Langer (Ger), P McGinley, H Stenson (Swe) -2 L Donald, C Montgomerie -1 R McIlroy +2 S Lowry, J Daly (US)

Goosen is a two-time US Open champion

South Africa's Retief Goosen fired an eight-under-par 64 to lead after the first round of the BMW International Open in Munich.

Goosen rolled in eight birdies to lead England's Richard Finch by two strokes.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who carded a 71, was outplayed by his 52-year-old playing partner Bernhard Langer, the German returning a 68.

Irish Open winner Shane Lowry is in danger of missing his third successive cut since turning pro after a 74.

"It would have been nice to make [the putts] at the US Open - I holed nothing there," said the 40-year-old Goosen, who finished 16th at Bethpage Black.

"I tested a new putter in the pro-am here and it felt sort of good, so I decided to give it a try."

The two-time US Open champion is seeking his first European Tour victory for more than two years, but in the past eight months has tasted victory in Asia, Africa and the United States.

In the group on five under par was Welshman Phillip Price, the former Ryder Cup hero who is down at a lowly 981st in the world rankings.

The 42-year-old's best round for more than two years gives him the chance to rescue his European Tour career with one good performance.

Best remembered for beating Phil Mickelson in a vital singles at The Belfry in 2002, Price had to rely on his career earnings of more than £4m to remain a member of the circuit at the end of last year.

But he has added little more than £10,000 in 13 starts this season, making only four cuts, and could drop out of the top 40 all-time money winners.

Without a win since the 2003 European Open Price moved to the US Tour two years later, but said on Thursday: "I lost my way probably.

"You have to try things, but it didn't work out. I came back, my wife and I had another baby and I lost the zest for Tour life a bit.

"It's been a struggle for three years and it got very depressing. It's a tough environment and I stopped making the effort for a while, but I'm trying hard now to turn it around."

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