David Drysdale continues to enjoy the best season of his European Tour career as the Scotsman shot a six under par 66 to take a share of the clubhouse lead on the opening day of the Madrid Masters.
Drysdale, who two weeks ago helped Scotland qualify for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China next month and will partner Alastair Forsyth there, eagled the 530 yard fifth and added four birdies without dropping a shot.
That left the 34 year old level with the English trio of Ross McGowan, David Horsey and Danny Willett.
McGowan, who earned over €100,000 for his sixth place at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, reached seven under with one to play, but then dropped his only stroke of the round at the 183 yard ninth.
Horsey and Willett, team-mates of Rory McIlroy in the 2007 Walker Cup against the Americans, are both seeking their first European Tour wins like Drysdale and McGowan.
Willett did not drop a stroke, while Horsey was only one under with seven to play but then had five successive birdies.
Three days after slipping from fourth to seventh in the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, Darren Clarke burst to the turn in a superb five under par 31 at Centro Nacional.
But then came bogeys at the second, fifth and eighth, and even with a closing birdie the 40 year old Ryder Cup star - without a win this season after two last year - had to settle for a three under 69.
Italian Emanuele Canonica, England’s David Lynn and Irish pair Damien McGrane and Gary Murphy were a shot further back on five under.
Favourites Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald were among the later starters.
