Jimenez takes narrow first day lead

Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez waited until the 18th to take the lead over Open champion Paul Lawrie and England's Roger Chapman in the Deutsche Bank Open in Hamburg on Thursday.

Jimenez fired four birdies in the last six holes for a five-under-par 67 to lead by one shot, with Frenchman Jean Van de Velde, South African Retief Goosen and Peter Lonard of Australia also on four-under after 16, 16 and 12 holes respectively.

Van de Velde had briefly led but a bogey at 16 saw him slip back after Chapman had followed in Lawrie with a 68.

Further back are three players, Emanuel Canonica of Italy, Miguel Angel Martin, of Spain, and Sweden's Joakim Haeggman, in the clubhouse on three-under with a log jam on the same score still out on the course.

World number one Tiger Woods led another pack at two-under after recovering from two bogeys to post a total of 70.

"I didn't hit the ball well early in the round," said Woods.

"It was a struggle early but I got it going."

Belgium's Nicolas Vanhootegem of Belgium, who came through last November's European tour qualifying school in third place behind Alastair Forsyth and Niclas Fasth, and Zimbabwe's Mark McNulty, shared the early lead with Lawrie for much of his round, but leaked two bogeys in the last three holes to drop back for a round of 70.

The tournament also doubles as the Tournament Players Championship of Europe and is the most lucrative week on Tour, excluing the Majors and World Golf Championship events.

The first prize is £269,000, which has attracted eight of the world's top 20 and all 12 of Europe's 1999 Ryder Cup team.

Playing with Woods was Lee Westwood who carded an opening 71, and Spain's Sergio Garcia, who went round in level par.

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