Home favourite Marcel Siem grabbed a share of the early lead as the BMW International Open began in Pulheim.
Having turned in 34, four-time European Tour winner Siem headed for home with birdies on the first and second.
At four under par, the German was level with England’s Oliver Fisher, Wales’ Bradley Dredge and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger at the top of the leaderboard.
Sergio Garcia, fifth at the US Open Championship last week, was in the same position again after birdies on the 12th, 17th and first.
That put the Spaniard alongside Swede Bjørn Åkesson, Scot Craig Lee, England’s Chris Paisley and South African Zander Lombard.
