Jacobson leads after record round

Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson took advantage of perfect weather Thursday to tie the European Tour record for the lowest score, firing a 12-under-par 60 in the first round of the Linde German Masters.

The 28-year-old had a chance to snap the record shared by 11 players on the 18th hole, but his 20-foot chip shot for birdie flew well left of the hole and rolled for another 12 feet.

Jacobson then recovered to make par, add his name to the record books and take a three-stroke lead into the second round. In all, the Swede carded 10 birdies and an eagle on a sunny windless day, needing just 21 putts. His round broke the Gut Laerchenhof course record of 62, set last year by England's Paul Casey.

``I think this was absolutely a perfect round,'' Jacobson said. ``You can't make every putt but I made so many of them.

``It was fantastic to have a chance to shoot 60, I have not been that close before.''

K. J. Choi held second in his debut on the European Tour, outside of the British Open, scoring a 63 by spreading around nine birdies.

Two strokes behind the South Korean at 65 were several players, including Darren Clarke, who is trying to catch Ernie Els as the Tour's leading money-winner.

``I think I played well but overall the other players played well too. It is important to be there with them,'' Choi said through an interpreter.

Choi has already established himself on the U.S. tour. He captured two titles last year and is currently perched 34th on the money list.

Jacobson had a hot putter from the start, sinking a 40-footer on his third hole. By the 13th, the Swede had raced to 10-under and thought he could become the first to shoot a 59 on the European Tour.

He began to close in on the record at the lucrative 3 million euros ($3.36 million) event by drilling a 12-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole. Another stroke was picked up in similar fashion on the following hole.

However, he was unable to get himself in position for a birdie putt on the 417-yard, par-4 final hole with its long water hazard to dodge, and that eased the pressure on him.

``That was the only thing on my mind,'' he said. ``I think if I had had a putt for a 59, I would have been shaking.''

Jacobson is enjoying a breakthrough year, chasing his third title this year. He finished second six times in previous seasons, but couldn't record a win. He plans to shift mostly to the U.S. tour.

Choi was brought in by the tournament to make his European debut because the organizers said the growing Asian market was very interesting to their sponsors and offered new television outlets.

Clarke, who had five birdies and an eagle in his 65, is playing his first European event since winning the prestigious NEC Invitational three weeks ago. He brought a physical fitness trainer with him to the event.

``I've been working on my game in various ways, so now it's physical fitness,'' he said. ``The players in the top 10 are just very fit.''

The Irishman is second behind Ernie Els on the European money list with seven events left. The Linde's 500,000 euro ($565,000) first prize could wipe away almost all of the South African's lead, with big stakes also to be had at the Dunhill and American Express in the next two events.

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