Good starts for Ryder Cup players

Miguel Angel Jimenez and Sergio Garcia warmed up for this month's Ryder Cup with sparkling starts at the European Masters on Thursday.

Europe captain Bernhard Langer would have been delighted as Jimenez, winner of last week's BMW International, led the tournament with a faultless six-under-par 65.

Garcia, who has a home nearby, shot a 66 to share second place with Swede Peter Hedblom, Marc Farry of France and Britain's Peter Baker.

Langer will be particularly pleased as one of his wild cards, 26-year-old British Cup rookie Luke Donald, was also challenging strongly just two strokes off the lead.

Jimenez is seeking his fifth win in a remarkable season in which he sealed his Ryder Cup berth three months ago and has climbed to fourth on the European money-list.

His failure to adapt to the U.S. Tour caused a slump in his career, but the 40-year-old Spaniard's results in the past two years show he is happy once again.

"When you are enjoying your golf you always see the bottle half full instead of half empty," said Jimenez after picking up six birdies.

"America was very nice but my life is not just golf, and playing there was exactly the same every week, apart from Boston and New York which are more cosmpolitan.

"Eating at McDonald's is not my way because I like Mediterranean food, an espresso, and to be able to have a smoke without people looking at me as if I was an alien.

"Now I'm playing as good as 1998-99 but with more experience. Like good wine, over the years I'm getting better."

Garcia's seven birdies were the sort of form Langer is looking for when the 24-year-old plays his expected five matches against the United States at Oakland Hills.

Jimenez is determined to play next week's German Masters, his fifth successive tournament, and Garcia is hoping to dissuade his fellow Spaniard in the interests of the European Cup team.

"He is playing unbelievable golf but when you are in contention every week it takes it out of you and he has to think about the whole team," Garcia said.

"Good wine is okay but if you keep drinking the wine the bottle will empty."

Donald, sharing a house with Garcia for the week, denied himself the lead by dropping three shots in two holes, double-bogeying the fifth with a poor chip and a three-putt.

However, the Briton was otherwise happy with a round that was two shots better than his playing partner, defending champion Ernie Els.

Hedblom has finished second this year, but Baker, a 1993 Ryder Cup player, has struggled with a best finish of eighth, while Farry's start was even more of a surprise as he has lost his full European Tour card.

Farry's only tour victory, the BMW International Open, came in 1996 over 36 holes.

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