EUROPEAN TOUR:ROBERT KARLSSON gave Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo some welcome good news with a first-round 67, five under par, in the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne.
Karlsson carded seven birdies and two bogeys at Gut Larchenhof to trail co-leaders Richard Finch and Jean-François Lucquin by a shot, easily the best display from the four team members on show in Cologne.
Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez had six birdies but four bogeys and a double bogey in a 72 matched by rookie Graeme McDowell, while Denmark's Soren Hansen - the defending champion but another rookie - returned a 73.
Damien McGrane, meanwhile, is four off the pace after a 70 while Peter Lawrie open with a 72.
Paul McGinley shot a one-over-par 73. Darren Clarke was 10 behind after a 76.
Karlsson, who made his cup debut in the record-equalling victory at The K Club in 2006, had been reported to be suffering from a neck injury after taking three weeks off.
But the 6ft 5in Swede reiterated that those reports had been wide of the mark after instantly returning to the sort of form that has brought him nine top-10 finishes this season - including eighth in the Masters, fourth in the US Open and seventh in The British Open.
"I just took an extra week off after playing a lot of golf in the summer," Karlsson said.
"I never had any injury and had no treatment. I just enjoyed three weeks with my family, although the kids having chicken pox meant I did not have much time for practice last week.
"It would be nice to win but mainly I am here to get going again after three weeks off.
"I'm usually quite good at getting back quickly and I'm very happy to have another three days to play (there is no cut this week) after not playing for so long."
Finch has failed to match Karlsson's consistency this season but has claimed two tournament victories after narrowly keeping his card at the end of last season.
The 31-year-old from Hull only secured his playing rights by finishing seventh in the final event of 2007 but won the New Zealand Open in December and then added the Irish Open in May - despite memorably falling into the river Maigue while playing his third shot on the 72nd hole.
"Even this morning I was looking at the scores from the first stage of the Qualifying School because I've got a few friends in that, and I did think it might have been me this time last year," Finch admitted after a round of eight birdies and two bogeys. To be here instead and shoot a good score and be in with a chance is great. I want to finish as high as I can up the Order of Merit to qualify for the majors next year, improve my world ranking and get into the top 100 (he is currently 146th).
"If you play well it all snowballs from there."
Lucquin is looking to complete rare back-to-back wins.
"It's unbelievable, since last week it's been like a dream," said the 29-year-old, who defeated Rory McIlroy on the second play-off hole in Crans-sur-Sierre.
"I missed maybe one shot, had a good pace on the greens and I'm very happy to make a good score. There's a lot of good players here and I'd like to have a good finish here before my week off."
