Goosen finds hot putter a week too late

Golf - BMW International Open:Retief Goosen was left wishing he had changed putters a week ago after he rolled in eight birdies to take the first-round lead at the BMW International Open in Munich today.

“It would have been nice to make them at the US Open - I holed nothing there,” said the 40-year-old South African after a 64 put him two in front of England’s Richard Finch.

Goosen, 16th at Bethpage Black on Monday, added: “I tested a new putter in the pro-am here and it felt sort of good, so I decided to give it a try.”

Two birdies in the first three proved to him it was a good move and after picking up further strokes at the sixth, ninth and 13th he finished with three more.

The last one had a touch of good fortune, though. His approach to the par five squirted right and might have gone in water but for clattering into a television tower.

The double US Open champion is seeking his first European Tour victory for more than two years, but in the past eight months has tasted victory in Asia, Africa and America.

Conditions were as muddy underfoot as they were in New York and one particularly bad shower forced play to be suspended for a while.

As a late starter Goosen avoided that, but being caught in it did not bother Finch - and nor should it have after what happened at the Irish Open last year.

The Hull golfer famously won at Adare Manor after falling into the River Maigue playing a shot on the final hole.

This time he returned to eagle the sixth, his 15th, and birdie two of the next three.

Paul McGinley was the leading Irishman after carding a four-under 68, which left him one ahead of fellow Dubliner Peter Lawrie and two ahead of Michael Hoey (70).

A quartet of Irishmen – Rory McIlroy, Damien McGrane, Gareth Maybin and Gary Murphy – all carded opening one-under 71s. However Irish Open winner was still struggling to get to grip with life on tour and shot an opening two-over par 74.

In the group three behind Goosen was Welshman Phillip Price and following David Duval’s showing in the US Open perhaps this is going to be the week of the big comebacks in golf.

Three days after world number 882 Duval finished joint runner-up, former Ryder Cup hero Price, down at a lowly 981st in the rankings, began the BMW International Open in Munich with a 67.

The 42-year-old’s best round for more than two years gives him the chance to rescue his European Tour career with one good performance.

Best remembered for beating Phil Mickelson in a vital singles at The Belfry in 2002, Price had to rely on his career earnings of more than €4million to remain a member of the circuit at the end of last year.

But he has added little more than €10,000 in 13 starts this season, making only four halfway cuts, and could drop out of the top 40 all-time money winners.

Without a win since the 2003 European Open Price moved to the US Tour two years later, but said: “I lost my way probably.

“You have to try things, but it didn’t work out. I came back, my wife and I had another baby and I lost the zest for Tour life a bit.

“It’s been a struggle for three years and it got very depressing. It’s a tough environment and I stopped making the effort for a while, but I’m trying hard now to turn it around.”