Rumford shoots 62 to take lead at European Masters

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CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, Switzerland (AP) -- Brett Rumford birdied the last four holes to shoot 28 on the back nine and take the first-round lead at the European Masters on Thursday with a 9-under 62.

Rumford, the 2007 champion, led by a stroke from Simon Dyson, the Dutch Open winner two weeks ago who carded a 63 on a day of superb scoring on the 6,822-yard course high in the Swiss Alps.

Miguel Angel Jimenez and Andres Romero were the early clubhouse leaders with rounds of 6-under 65 and were joined on that score by Christian Nilsson, Thongchai Jaidee, Alexander Noren and Danny Willett.

Rumford is back on the European Tour after a year in the United States, but his results have not been good and he missed the last two halfway cuts.

"I got my putter running hot," he said after holing from 20 feet twice and 15 feet twice for birdies on the last four holes. "I don't know where this came from."

His round was marred by an incident on the first hole, where his drive struck a lady above the left eye.

"There was a lot of blood. It wasn't nice. I haven't spoken to her yet. They had taken her away and I didn't see her at all," Rumford said. "Lucky it wasn't two inches to the left or on the temple or it could have been worse."

Rumford parred that hole and bogeyed the fourth and fifth but was 11 under for the last 13 holes including an eagle at the seventh from 15 feet and a 40-foot birdie at the 11th.

Dyson was pleased to rediscover form after an indifferent Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles last week when he tied 56th just seven days after his Dutch triumph.

He shot eagle-3s on the first and 15th holes and made three birdies without dropping a bogey on his card.

He said the Dutch win had really boosted his game: "It's such a mental game and when you get a win under your belt it does wonders for your state of mind."

Romero, who normally plays on the PGA TOUR and is making a rare visit to Europe, had six birdies and no bogeys.

Jimenez, a member of Europe's Ryder Cup team last year, is playing at the European Masters for the 21st straight year.

"I have never won it and would love to," said Jimenez, who had 27 putts in the round and made four of them between 15 and 20 feet.

Rory McIlroy, who lost out in a playoff last year when he should have won, started with a 67, disappointing after a birdie-eagle beginning to his round.

"I missed a few greens but got up and down each time. The shot into the second was a sand wedge of 104 yards," he said. "It's a good start with no bogeys."

Lee Westwood, chasing the European Order of Merit title, began with a level-par 71 courtesy of an eagle-3 at the 15th.

Former Masters champion Trevor Immelman, who was coming back from a wrist injury, shot 74 but said his wrist was fine.

"I'm rusty and out of practice," the South African said. "I didn't hit the ball well and I didn't putt well either. I can't really expect much more and I can't be too hard on myself at this time."