EUROPEAN TOUR NEWS:PETER O'MALLEY fired a first-round 67 to take a one-stroke lead over a clutch of players at the Asian Open yesterday. The 42-year-old Australian carded six birdies to overhaul morning leaders Henrik Stenson of Sweden, Finland's Mikko Ilonen, Briton Oliver Wilson and Jeev Milkha Singh of India, in sunny weather at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Course.

"I played really well, I haven't played like that lately," O'Malley said. "I drove the ball well, I hit every fairway. I can't really fault anything today."

After picking up four birdies and a bogey in his first nine holes, O'Malley took the lead in style, sinking a 45-foot birdie putt on the par-four sixth, his 15th hole, giving him every chance of clinching his first European Tour win in seven years.

World number 13 Stenson got off to a flying start with four birdies in his first seven holes, finishing strongly with a birdie on his last after two mid-round bogeys.

The Swede, second on the European order of merit, will be keen to make amends after losing to Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in a play-off here two years ago.

"Obviously you don't want to bring back the memories of how it felt five minutes after losing a play-off, but I enjoy myself here," Stenson said.

Singh, the 2006 Asian order-of-merit champion, said his putter made up for a few wayward tee-shots in a five-birdie round marred only by a dropped shot on the sixth, his 15th hole.

"I would prefer good putting to good ball-striking any day," Singh said at the European and Asian Tour co-sanctioned event.

The winner takes home €243,500.

Darren Clarke was best of the large Irish challenge with a one-under-par 71 that included four birdies and one bogey.

Peter Lawrie was a shot back on level par and could have been much better but for a double-bogey at the 16th, his seventh hole.

Rory McIlroy returned after a couple of weeks off with a one-over 73, while Graeme McDowell and Gary Murphy were two over.

Last week's champion, Damien McGrane, double-bogeyed his opening hole, the 10th, on his way to a 75.

Former world number one Greg Norman, making a rare European Tour performance, was unhappy with a mix of three birdies and two bogeys in his 71.

"There was a bit of rust in concentration, two bad club selections, which you should never do," Norman said.

Twice US Open champion Retief Goosen overcame a horror start to finish five off the pace on even par, holing four birdies to cancel out four bogeys in his first seven holes.

Australia's Scott Hend, who in the morning charged into first place with an eagle on the par-five second, trails the leaders by two after a disappointing double bogey towards the end of the round to card a three-under 69.

Wilson feels he is ready to claim his maiden European Tour title after he put himself among the early pacesetters.

The 27-year-old from Mansfield has come close to securing that elusive win on a number of occasions in his four years on the circuit, most notably at the Johnnie Walker Classic and the Players' Championship last season.

Wilson again finished second at the China Open in Beijing last week and has continued his fine form at Shanghai Pudong Golf Club to sit one stroke behind O'Malley.

Starting on the 10th, Wilson picked up his first birdie on the par-four 11th when he hit a wedge to 10 feet before holing the birdie putt.

He then added another on the 15th while making par on the rest to reach the turn at two under.

Wilson picked up three more birdies coming home but dropped to four under when he three putted on the par-five ninth for a bogey.

"I have been in contention a few times now and I am ready to win," he said. "I just need a bit of luck here and there and if your short game is in shape then hopefully I won't be too far (away) come Sunday.

"I just have to keep doing what I am doing and keep giving myself opportunities.

"Today I played lovely. Apart from the last I only had one par save so gave myself a lot of chances.

"It was a shame to finish like I did after such a good round but with a 68 I am very happy to get that around this course."

Defending champion Raphael Jacquelin made a bad start to his round with a double bogey on the first and returned to the clubhouse one over.