Spanish Open update
South Africa's Charl Schwartzel set a blistering pace on the opening day of the Spanish Open while the Irish quartet were making solid progress of their own.
Schwartzel shot a nine-under par 63 at the Golf Costa Adeje venue but such is the competition that he still only commands a one shot lead from Denmark's Soren Hansen and Sweden's Jarmo Sandelin in second.
The 19-year-old littered his card with five birdies and two eagles, displaying much of the promise which earned him his tour card - the second youngest player to do so - in the south of Spain last year.
Gary Murphy was the first of the home players to reach the clubhouse and the Kilkennyman managed it in a round of 68. Birdies at the second, eighth, 15th and 18th without any blemishes left 30-year-old well placed just five off the lead.
Graeme McDowell and Peter Lawrie also got to four-under by the time they reached the turn with Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley a shot further back through 12.
McDowell, the current Scandinavian Masters champion, fired out of the blocks by starting with three straight birdies. Only a dropped shot at the seventh halted progress but damage limitation came by way of birdies either side of the bogey.
Defending champion and tournament favourite Sergio Garcia posted a three-under 69 and will look for success this week to kick-start what has been a slow season by his standards to date.