Markus Brier takes opening honours with 65

Austria's Markus Brier made light of awkward conditions at the Oitavos course on Thursday to set up the chance of a European Tour breakthrough.

Strong winds at the tough Quinta da Marinha complex pushed up the scoring but Brier's six-under-par 65 earned him a two-stroke lead over Briton Neil Cheetham, South African Titch Moore and Dane Mats Vibe-Hastrup.

Brier has finished second twice on the full tour and his fifth place in the 2004 World Cup with Martin Wiegele last November has given him encouragement for this season.

A quick-fix with his coach after missing three cuts put him back on the right track for this event.

"My swing was too steep, so my coach and I worked on that, but I didn't expect it to take effect so quickly," said the leader.

"It was mainly a crosswind but I kept the ball in play, played some really good irons, and when birdie chances came along I made them."

Cheetham a clubmate of former European number one Lee Westwood's at Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, had threatened the European Tour record of four eagles in a round.

He captured three eagles in seven holes, but missed his chance and also bogeyed the last to deny himself sole second place.

Fellow-Briton Barry Lane, 44, also slipped at the final hole when lying only a stroke off Brier's lead, double-bogeying by driving out of bounds to have to settle for a 68.

The tight finishing hole claimed many a victim.

Tournament favourite Nick Dougherty of Britain quadruple-bogeyed the 18th by taking three penalty strokes, driving out of bounds and finding a bush with his provisional ball, but was satisfied with salvaging a 72.

"That's why golf is 18 holes and not 17," said this year's Singapore Masters champion.

Jean Van de Velde, playing for the first time since last September and making his latest comeback from extensive knee surgery in 2002, was delighted with a pain-free round of 70 in which he took the early lead by picking up three strokes in his first seven holes.

"I hit some extremely good shots and it was very good overall," said the 39-year-old Frenchman, renowned for allowing the 1999 British Open to slip through his fingers.

"I could feel the heart beating a little quicker on the first tee and that at least showed that I must care.

"It was really, really good over the first six or seven holes because I stuck to my plan of playing it simple, seeing the shot and executing it.

"The knee is perfect and it's great to go through all the emotions of playing again."

Van de Velde double-bogeyed the 18th with a three-putt, but, unfazed, he added: "It's a tough course and the winner is probably going to have a couple of double-bogeys on his card."

Darkness foiled the late starters and 12 players will have to complete their first round on Friday.

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