Trio top leaderboard with 65's

A flight back home to clear "garbage" out of his mind produced stunning results for Australian Brett Rumford in Thursday's BMW International Open first round.

A seven-under-par 65 with eight birdies gave Rumford, twice a European Tour winner, a share of a one-shot lead with big-hitting Argentine Angel Cabrera and Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen, both looking for second wins of the season.

Rumford had been dismayed by a dip in fortunes that saw him fail to earn anything in two months as he missed three successive cuts, failed to qualify for the British Open and withdraw from the Johnnie Walker Championship two weeks ago.

His cure for ill form was a visit to his sports psychologist and some home cooking.

"I had some good R and R back home after withdrawing in Scotland," said the 28-year-old Perth man.

"My time at home has cleared a lot of the garbage around my head -- an accumulation of things, mental, course-management, swing, a multitude of things that you can put bad form down to.

"I worked on the game and came back refreshed with a clear mind and today's round is a result."

His co-leaders have clear goals.

Cabrera, who admitted to losing out on the driving distance stakes with playing-partner John Daly but bettered the American major winner by three strokes, is looking to climb into the world's top 10 by the end of the season. He is now 13th.

"I could never match Daly for driving," said Cabrera after collecting an eagle and seven birdies to easily outweigh two dropped shots.

"I was 20-30 yards behind him. The only time I did outdrive him was at my first hole and I bogeyed it.

"But I felt very confident with my driving and also my putting."

The 35-year-old Cordoban is looking for a BMW double, having won the BMW (PGA) Championship, the European Tour's flagship event, earlier in the year.

Derksen's goal is more long-term, with the next Ryder Cup campaign starting next week.

He said: "I know it will be difficult but it would be nice to be the first Dutchman to play in the Ryder Cup."

Nine players are only a stroke off the pace, including Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, looking for a third win in the event in five years, and Britain's Ian Poulter, who was making a happy return to the course where he sealed his 2004 Ryder Cup place.

Irishman Paul McGinley and Briton David Howell are in contention with Poulter for the remaining two World Matchplay Championship places next month.

Howell is another on six-under, while McGinley, with ex-Formula One boss Eddie Jordan on the bag, birdied four of the first five holes but could not go up a gear and finished three off the pace.

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