McGinley on the back foot

Paul McGinley's challenge for the Portuguese Open began with a double-bogey seven at Oitavos, west of Lisbon, today.

The only member of last year's Ryder Cup side not taking part in the Masters next week - he has dropped to 96th in the world rankings - remained at two over through seven holes. The Dubliner was not the only player to struggle early on, however.

Former Open champion Paul Lawrie, who was leading on the course with two to play two years ago and ran up a triple bogey seven, bogeyed his first two holes.

Early leaders at two under par were Andrew Raitt and Simon Dyson. Raitt birdied the first and second, while Dyson picked up shots on the eighth and 11th.

Half the field started the event on the long eighth because of the configuration of the course and it was there McGinley and Lawrie had their problems.

Playing with McGinley, midlander Paul Broadhurst, seeking a third successive victory in the event to join Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Tiger Woods (twice) as the only players to achieve the feat on the European Tour, bogeyed the short ninth, but began the back nine with a birdie.

Teenage sensation Rory McIlroy, playing his second European Tour event of the season, made an inauspicious start, bogeying the eighth.