Sweden's Fredrik Andersson and India's Arjun Atwal shot 9-under-par 62s for a 1-stroke lead on the opening day of the Malaysian Open yesterday.
Thailand's Thammanoon Srirot is in third place, one shot clear of South Korean Ted Oh in the co-sanctioned European and Asian Tour event being played on the Mines Resort course.
Andersson and Atwal' duo recorded identical outward and inward halves of 31 with the Swede looking to clinch a first European Tour victory after some impressive performances last year.
PHOTO: AFP
"I was in contention a couple of times last year and wasn't able to finish it off at the weekend," said Andersson. "I guess you need the practice of being in contention so I hope next time I am there and hopefully this week."
Atwal, who won last year's Singapore Masters, is just as keen to record an eighth professional career win.
Four of his victories were in his native India and he earned a full European Tour card for his 5-stroke success in Singapore.
England's Simon Dyson, who shot a 65, produced one of his best rounds for some time, displaying the form that earned him the 2000 Asian Tour Order of Merit and also 2000 Asian Tour Rookie of Year titles.
Compatriot Lee Westwood, a former Malaysian Open champion, finished soaked in perspiration, but delighted with a 66.
"I missed a lot of chances but all round my game was good while my short game was also sharp and I chipped in once from the edge of the seventh," Westwood said.
South African Retief Goosen and Ireland's Padraig Harrington, the top two ranked players in Europe, also shot 66s.
Harrington, resuming competition after a nine-week break, said, "I am very happy about that and I am surprised especially if you had of seen the way I was hitting it on Monday and Tuesday.
"But I had done the work on my game and my mind was very active so it was getting better as the days went on and it was better today."
Goosen intends to take his place in next week's Accenture Matchplay Championship in California, but it depends on his wife Tracy, who is expecting their first child soon.
The South African said, "It looks okay for now but if I get a call that the baby is coming early then I will heading straight back, matchplay or no matchplay."
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