Inspired Darcy still has a chance

Eamonn Darcy finished with three straight birdies for a seven-under-par 65 in the opening round at Is Molas yesterday to grab a share of the lead and give himself a fighting chance of retaining his playing card.

The 48-year-old, one of Europe's victorious 1987 Ryder Cup team, lies 144th on the money list and needs to win about £30,000 to get into the top 115.

"The course is there for the taking so I'm not surprised, I'm delighted," Darcy said. "I have been hitting the ball pretty good the last month, I should have been fourth last week (he came joint ninth), and it's just a pity I've left it a bit late.

"I need to finish top three to retain my card, which is a tall order."

Darcy was joined at the top of the leaderboard by another veteran, Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance, and England's Van Phillips and France's Benoit Teilleria.

Seven players were tied a shot further back including English duo Ian Poulter and Jeremy Robinson, who is also in need of a good week to retain his touring card.

Torrance is playing a limited European Tour schedule to fit in with his duties as skipper at The Belfry next year, but described himself still "as keen as mustard" to play competitively after discovering the benefits of a new ball.

"I used the new Titleist ball last weekend and I was like a dog with two tails," Torrance said. "It's given me 20 or 30 yards more distance with the driver and even more control with my irons. It's delicious.

"My only bogey of the day came on the 17th when I hit a drive 355 yards into a ditch that runs across the fairway.

"I played tremendously in the German Masters, as good as I have for a number of years, and was full of confidence, but then got wet going to the clubhouse on the Sunday when it was rained off and my back completely locked up.

"I couldn't move, couldn't go to Las Vegas to play there and even now there is a bit of a twinge but it's virtually gone."

Torrance, starting on the 10th, went out in two under par 35 and came back in just 30 helped by an eagle and three birdies.

A high finish is the target to qualify for the lucrative Volvo Masters in Spain next week, but a return to playing duties in the Ryder Cup is definitely off the agenda.

"The team looks fantastic already," he added. "I could play with what I've got now.

"I still have 46 names to look at in my little black book. Maybe I should make it 47 with myself!"