Roe & Karlsson top opening day leaderboard

Britain's Mark Roe kept alive his hopes of retaining his European Tour card by taking a share of the early lead with a flawless eight-under-par 63 in the Madrid Open first round on Thursday.

Although preferred lies, because of heavy rain, prevented Roe and co-leader Robert Karlsson of Sweden from equalling the Club de Campo course record, they finished a stroke ahead of Britain's Darren Clarke and Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin.

Tournament favourite and order of merit leader Colin Montgomerie suffered on spongy greens in the afternoon, three-putting three of the first five holes on the way to a 72.

Englishman Roe climbed to 107th in the order of merit after tying for fourth at last week's Canaries Open, nine spots into the safety zone to avoid losing his playing privileges card for the first time.

"I've never lost my card in 20 years and I'm very proud I can say that at the age of 42," said Roe, a three-times winner on the European Tour. "So I won't be resting on my laurels.

"Last week playing my 500th tour event was a milestone and I was able to celebrate with my best finish for two years but I came here intent on improving my position.

"I missed my twins' fifth birthday last week but it might be the key that opens the door to a good season next year."

Roe lies just $25,000 clear of the 116th place cut-off line in the money list and has several players breathing down his neck with only two events remaining in which to secure his card.

Karlsson, a five-times winner in Europe, is looking for his first victory in three years after slumping to 116th in the money list last season. This year, he lies 38th and, like Roe, produced a blemish-free 63 at Club de Campo.

Seve Ballesteros, making his first tournament appearance for two years, battled to an opening 77 which left him third from bottom of the field.

The five-times major winner, who has regained fitness after a long struggle with back and knee problems, mixed two double-bogeys with five dropped shots and three birdies in the wet, overcast conditions.

"It was not easy to come back," the 48-year-old Spaniard said. "Everything was fine until I walked on to the first tee and then I started to feel a bit tight.

"But I started to play well on the back nine, more like I felt before the start of my round."

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