England's Russell Claydon had a hunger for victory and plenty more besides after the first round of the £620,000 Algarve Portuguese Open. Paul McGinley was best of the five-strong Irish contingent, shooting a 70 to leave him at two under par, two off the pace.

Claydon fired a first round three-under-par 69 to lie just one shot off the lead at Penina held by Wales' Phil Price and England's John Bickerton.

The 34-year-old from Cambridge, one of the biggest players on tour at 6ft 2in and over 16 stones, has shed some of that weight recently but remained yet to be convinced about the potential benefits.

"I suppose I should say I feel great, I'm feeling the benefit and I wish I'd done it years ago," said the former English amateur champion. "But to be honest I just feel permanently hungry!"

Claydon sprang to prominence in 1989 after appearing in the Walker Cup and losing to Greg Norman in a play-off for the Australian Masters in 1989 while still in the amateur ranks. But he did not have such an enjoyable experience Down Under earlier this season, missing the cut in both of his previous events in Australia.

Bickerton (30) has fond memories of the course after finishing runner-up last year, losing a playoff to Van Phillips on the first extra hole. His opening 68, with five birdies and an eagle, set the early clubhouse lead and was never surpassed leaving him in the perfect position to go one better this year.

All the players found the conditions tough with the course playing extremely long, pretournament favourite Ian Woosnam slumping to a twoover-par 74, most of the damage done at the par five fifth.

Ronan Rafferty was one shot worse off after a 75 but the former European number one was happy just to be playing after almost two years out of the game due to a serious thumby injury.

"I think I'll be ring-rusty all year," the 36-year-old from Newry admitted. "I expect to feel like that all year and I don't have any expectations whatsoever."

"But it was fun out there, I was enjoying bits of it and I hit a few good shots and reminded myself how it was done. I managed my biggest drive of the day down the first but it didn't do me much good, I still couldn't reach in two!"