TOURNAMENT professionals need no second bidding when they encounter a well groomed golf course basking in warm sunshine and the merest whisper of a breeze.
Even old Ryder Cup warhorses like Eamonn Darcy and Des Smyth break into a gallop in the rush to join the birdie feast.
But no one moved as swiftly as Paul Broadhurst, whose career best 62 gave him the first round lead in the Volvo German Open at defenceless Nippenburg yesterday.
Ryder Cup captain Seve Ballesteros had warned after practice that the course, designed on the outskirts of Stuttgart by Bernhard Langer, was too easy and would be no challenge. But even he could not have expected that his 68 would leave him six shots off the lead and sharing 50th place.
Broadhurst had nine birdies, but managed only a one stroke lead because Scot Raymond Russell rushed to a 63. And there were seven chargers on 64, among them title favourite Ian Woosnam, architect Langer, and the leading Irishman, former European number one Ronan Rafferty.
Darcy shot 65 and Smyth had 66, while Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, two members of the younger generation who have succeeded them on international team duty, both had 67.
Francis Howley and Raymond Burns returned 69, and the only Irishmen to miss out were David Higgins, with a par 71 for a share of 113th place, and Darren Clarke with 72 to be joint 129th. In both cases it was a disobedient putter that left them trailing.
A total of 94 players broke 70 and 112 beat par for the undulating, 6,748 yard lay out just outside the home of the Mercedes car giant.
As McGinley remarked after his comparatively modest haul of five birdies, "It is set up for the members rather than touring professionals. There is hardly any fairway bunkering, the hazards are too far from the greens to be a problem, and it is in good condition. When there is no wind it is very easy.
Broadhurst, who had shot 63 in the 1990 Open at St Andrews, and in the last round of last year's French Open, believes that a first 59 by a European golfer is likely over the next three days. He could easily have shot 60, but three putted one of the par fives, which are all within reach in two shots, and also missed two short range chances.
Darcy and Smyth, both refreshed after a two week break, could hardly believe their good fortune, the former bagging seven birdies, and the later four and an eagle at the 18th, where he hit a five wood approach within six feet of the pin.
Rafferty, who had eight birdies, has rarely enjoyed such riches in the three years he has been without a victory, while Woosnam is rubbing his hands in glee at the prospect of knocking the absent Montgomerie off the top of the money list.
The Welshman blazed out in 30 from the 10th, and had three more birdies in the first four inward holes before losing the edge off his putting. Then he missed the target at the short eighth, and, with his ball lying against the grass, failed to get up and down.
Woosnam, who has already won in Singapore, Perth and Carnoustie, needs to finish first or second to take over from Montgomerie. "My aim is five wins this year, in order to be European number one again, and get up those Sony rankings " he said.
The former Masters champion slumped to 65th in Europe last year and 56th place in the world rankings. That prompted him to negotiate new clauses to his sponsorship contracts which trigger cash bonuses as he progresses up the rankings. "If I play well I will get paid well," he said. "I needed the money incentive to motivate me and get back my enthusiasm after last year."
But a fourth win this weekend is by no means a formality in what Will remain a putting contest, unless the present benign weather changes. Among the danger men are rookie Russell, who was fourth last week in the Czech Open to gain an Alfred Dunhill Cup debut, while Harrington and McGinley are both prolific birdie shooters, who can transform any leaderboard.
Clark who expected to profit from hiss acquisition of an Oil sey soft faced putter, began promisingly enough with three birdies in an outward 34, but lost his way badly in the closing stages by three putting the 15th, missing from short range at the 17th, and then taking another three putts for a six at the last, where he had driven into a water hazard.
