O'Malley cards 66 to take early lead at BMW

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MUNICH, Germany (AP) -- Peter O'Malley shot a 6-under 66 Thursday to share first place with three others players after the opening round of the BMW International Open.

O'Malley, chasing his first European Tour victory since the 2001 English Open, had a bogey-free round of six birdies to split the top of the leaderboard with South Africa's Anton Haig, Singapore's Mardan Mamat and Rafa Echenique of Argentina.

O'Malley, a 20-year veteran, said he stays motivated by spending time with his family in Australia every three weeks without hardly touching the clubs.

"I feel like I want to play when I'm out here, which is always good," said O'Malley, who turns 43 this week. "I haven't had any injury drama -- still wanting to keep playing the game is the main thing."

Miguel Angel Jimenez and Retief Goosen are three strokes back and Colin Montgomerie and Paul Casey shot 70. John Daly carded 72 after five wild holes from the 13th -- two double bogeys, a bogey and two birdies.

The double bogey on the 16th came when the American's ball rolled down a hill twice. He was forced to hit out of a trap, sending rocks shooting out of the water.

"Just got some bad breaks. What can you do?" Daly said. "I am hitting better than I am scoring."

Daly still holds the tournament record for lowest score with his 2001 win in 27-under 261. Since then, organizers have thickened the Munich Eichenried rough to toughen up an easy course.

The BMW International Open kicks off a series of lucrative events that includes the British Open, the PGA Championship and runs through the Ryder Cup Sept. 19-21.

"This is the time of year where you really want to be playing good golf and that's what I've sort of set my goal for throughout the year," O'Malley said.

Martin Kaymer, last year's European rookie of the year, is two strokes off the lead with a 68 at his home tournament.

A big crowd of German fans followed the 23-year-old, hoping he can become the first German winner of the 19-year-old event. He collected three birdies, a bogey and eagle on his front nine before cooling down.

"I feel very good," Kaymer said. "To see that many spectators is motivating. There were a lot there on my 18th hole."