BBC SPORT | Golf | Langer leads with birdie blitz

First round scores

Bernhard Langer made an impressive start to the BMW International Open as he attempted to complete a full set of German European Tour titles.

Photo Gallery: See this story in pictures

Langer topped the leaderboard on eight under after carding a 64, one shot clear of English trio Ian Poulter, Robert Coles and Richard Bland when rain halted play at 1730 local time.

Poulter is on stand-by for the European Ryder Cup team and demonstrated his readiness should any of the side's 10 qualifiers pull out with a seven-under-par 65.

First round leaderboard

-8 Bernhard Langer (18 holes)

-7 Poulter, Bland, Coles (18)

-6 Immelman (18)

Langer has won every PGA tournament played on his home soil at least once, with the exception of the Munich event.

But he teed off from the 10th at Nord-Eichenried in determined mood on Thursday and was out in 34 after birdies at the 16th and 18th.

And he then rattled in six more birdies from the first - making it seven in a row - to move to eight under.

That put him a shot clear of Poulter, who shot his 65 in the group ahead of Langer.

The 26-year-old, who lost his Ryder Cup chance when he missed the cut at this event last year, held the lead at five under after 10 holes before Langer stormed through.

"It's been a roller-coaster season so it was nice to roll a few putts in today," said Poulter after his opening round.

Monty misses Munich

"I'm still hopeful of climbing up the order of merit because there are still three months and nine tournaments for me to improve."

Langer's barrage of birdies suggested that the tournament's tradition of low scoring is set to continue.

The average winning total in the event's 13-year history is 19 under par.

And John Daly equalled the European Tour's lowest ever winning total with his 27 under last year.

John Daly won by one shot last year
John Daly is the defending champion

The big-hitting American is back to defend his title and was one under after 16 holes when rain stopped play.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington, struggling with ankle and neck injuries, completed his opening round at two-under-par.

Among the other early starters, Seve Ballesteros carded a level-par 72 on his return to action after a two-month break.

The Spaniard was two over with two to play, but a pair of closing birdies went some way to redeeming his round.

Danish Ryder Cup player Thomas Bjorn had an erratic round of 68, with two bogeys on his back nine to go along with his six birdies.

Leaderboard after first round of the BMW International Open, Munich (GB and Ire unless stated)

8 under - Bernhard Langer (Ger)
7 under - Ian Poulter, Robert Coles, Richard Bland
6 under - Trevor Immelman (Rsa)

Selected others:
2 under - Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose (16)
1 under - John Daly (USA) (16)
Level - Seve Ballesteros (Spa)


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