Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher wasted little time establishing a lead as the BMW International Open got underway in Cologne.

The 27 year old, whose only European Tour victory came on home soil back in 2004, had six birdies in his first 12 holes to race to six under par at Golf Club Gut Lärchenhof.

That took Gallacher – a runner-up in Malaysia and Dubai this season – a shot clear of South Africa’s Richard Sterne.

The five-time European Tour winner is still making his way back to full fitness after a back injury and five birdies in six holes from the third helped him turn in 31.

Home favourite Marcel Siem was in the group on three under along with Bradley Dredge, Marcus Fraser, Gregory Havret and Shiv Kapur.

Gallacher added a seventh birdie on the 436 yard fifth - his 14th - but three in a row from the 12th brought Kapur on to his heels and both German Siem and France's Havret were only two back.

Tournament favourite Martin Kaymer was one under with five to play.

Gallacher had to be content with a five under 67 and it was Kapur who set the early clubhouse target.

He reached seven under before bogeying the last and that dropped him alongside South African Keith Horne and Australian Marcus Fraser as they came towards the end of their rounds.

Daly advanced to four under but Kaymer, having chipped close on the par five sixth for birdie, found the water with his approach to the eighth and with a bogey was one under again.

He parred the last for a 71, while defending champion Pablo Larrazábal started with a 69.