Ballesteros return way off course

Seve Ballesteros, playing on the European Tour for the first time since October, struggled on his return to competitive action at the French Open today, carding an opening round 81 to sit 10 over-par.

The 49-year-old Spaniard had actually began his opening round well.  Starting at the 10th, he was level through his first five holes after a birdie two at the 11th and bogey five at the next.

However, from there on in his game fell apart, carding bogey, double-bogey, double-bogey, triple bogey before reaching the turn.

"I'm encouraged for tomorrow," he said, "I'm sure it will be a better day."

Padraig Harrington leads the eight-strong Irish challenge on two under - six off the lead - following an opening round 69.

Graeme McDowell and Michael Hoey, however, endured frustrating afternoons, carding five and six over respectively.

Dubliner Peter Lawrie is well positioned on one-under par while Gary Murphy is level.  Paul McGinley, Philip Walton and Damien McGrane are all one shot further back.

England's John Bickerton fell just one short of equalling the course record as he posted an eight-under-par 63 to lead by two from 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell.

He came storming through a pack of players with five birdies in his final seven holes to overtake Campbell, who minutes earlier had posted the clubhouse lead at six under.

Starting on the back nine, the 36-year-old had three birdies in a row from the 11th with his longest putt being just 15 feet to turn in 32.

At the 563-yard third he was in trouble off the tee and had to chip out with a lob wedge but then holed a long birdie putt after hitting a five iron to 30 feet.

He picked up more shots at his next two holes, one from 25 feet and another from 12, before he closed with back-to-back birdies - signing off in style at the last with a 20-footer.

Campbell began his round at the 10th with a bogey five but after that was flawless as four birdies took him to the turn in 32.

He also birdied the par-five third before a seven-foot putt at the fifth took him to five under and he capped his round with a final birdie at the 450-yard seventh.  PA