Leaderboard jammed in Russia: Daly shoots 70

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Joakim Backstrom

NAKHABINO, Russia (AP) -- Joakim Backstrom had an albatross in a 7-under 65 Thursday to share the lead with three others after the opening round of the Russian Open, and John Daly struggled with a hand injury to shoot a 70.

Backstrom of Sweden, looking for his second European Tour title, is at the top of the leaderboard with England's David Carter, Roope Kakko of Finland and Fredrik Henge of Sweden.

Daly, who won the 1991 PGA Championship and the 1995 British Open, has recently been struggling with his form, missing the cut at the BMW International Open in June and at the British Open last Friday.

He birdied three of his last four holes Thursday, but still felt the effects of a right hand injury.

"It's hurting pretty bad," Daly said. "But luckily the ground here is soft so I can get through the ball. That wasn't possible last week. If the course had been hard this week, I probably wouldn't have been able to play."

The 42-year-old American opened with two bogeys, followed by a birdie. Another bogey and a birdie left him 1 over at the turn.

"It could have been really bad," he said. "I probably hit two of the worst iron shots that I have ever hit on Tour. I struggled a little bit, but managed to get it to 2 under. I think it's the best that I could have scored."

The 30-year-old Backstrom, who started on the back nine, had two birdies before he holed the par-5 15th with his second shot from 233 yards.

"I hit it well and it pitched on the green and then disappeared," Backstrom said. "I walked up to the green and it (ball) was there in the hole.

"It was a great start -- 5 under after six holes which was great."

Kakko shot 10 birdies and missed a par putt on the 18th that would have given him the outright lead, while Carter and Henge both had a bogey-free round.

"I actually missed a few tee shots on the first six holes, but managed to make birdies from where I was," Henge said. "And after that, it was great. I just missed one green today and made a lot of chances."

Darren Fichardt of South Africa had seven birdies and a bogey in a 66 for fifth place. He was followed by a group of 10 players tied for sixth.

Former top-ranked Russian tennis player Yevgeny Kafelnikov and NHL ice hockey forward Alex Kovalev, who received wild cards from the organizers, are last at 17 over and 27 over.

The Russian Open became a fully fledged European Tour event in 2006.