BEGINNER'S luck swiftly deserted Ivan Lendl when he made his debut as a golf professional on the European Tour at Marianske Lazne yesterday. Lendl birdied the first hole of the Chemapol Trophy Czech open by sinking a 20 yard chip, but five hours later, after a series of excursions into the Marianske woods, the former tennis world number one handed in a card of 82.

Unfortunately for Raymond Burns, so did he, and then retired with a bad back. But David Higgins continued to find his form to fire a three under par 68 to share second place, along with the erratic Darren Clarke. And last week's winnner, Paul McGinley, shot a steady 71.

Lendl (36), the Czech born American, followed his opening hole heroics with a triple bogey at the third, and nine bogeys in the remaining 15 holes, to trail 15 strokes behind the leading quartet of England's Jamie Spence, Scotland's Andrew Coltart and Dean Robertson, and Italian Emanuele Canonica.

"That was five times worse than playing in a Wimbledon final," said Lendl. "I knew it was going to be difficult and I was really tight. I did not feel comfortable and I did not have enough skill to stop my slide.

"At tennis I always had confidence in what I was doing, but here I did not know what to expect."

A posse of cameramen had greeted him on the first tee and were rewarded with a perfect drive, a pulled second shot into rough, and that chip in over a bunker. Lendl had a putt for a birdie at the second but then came face to face with the reality of playing card and pencil golf for a living.

He carved his drive out of bounds at the next to take seven, and got only one of his next six first serves" onto closely mown grass in taking 41 to the turn.

He was in the trees at the 11th and 12th to ship further strokes, but was only four over par for the inward half despite a 30 minute delay on the final fairway because of a rainstorm.

I am sorry for all the people who came to watch me," he added. "They must have thought after that first hole that all the others would be the same. I let them down and I am not happy with my score.

"It was a long time before I settled and I have not been as nervous since I topped my first drive when trying to qualify for the US Open at Westchester in May.

Some say Lendl never was much good on grass, but his consolation was that he was by no means top scorer. Two young Czech professionals had 83 and 85.

But Lendl will return today for another attempt, and whatever one might think of the quality of golf from a new member of the profession there is no doubt he is a sportsman with a strong competitive urge.

Clarke also comes into that category and recent successes by rival members of the squad under the management of Andrew Chandler will make him redouble his efforts. Lei Westwood and McGinley have won the last two European events in Sweden and Austria, and the refreshed Clarke, back from a tennis and fishing holiday, has his sights on a title worth £125,000.

Like Lendl he made an uncertain start, but after two bogeys in the first four holes unleashed a broadside of birdies once he, had settled down at the seventh. He hit a six iron only five feet from the flag for his first birdie and started back home with two more.

Then, after going into the trees at the 12th, he retaliated with three birdies in the next four holes to be home in 33.

Higgins, who figured 50 strongly in last week's Austrian Open, was a model of consistency after an early mistake when he went into sand at the first, but he had to wait until the 14th to stay below par.

Then he hit two successive approaches within five feet and wedged seven feet from the 17th flag for another birdie that got him in 34.

Higgins needs another £10,000 to be sure of his tour card for next year.