Robert Rock leads with opening 66 - Maybank Malaysian Open 2007

England's Robert Rock shot a six-under-par 66 to take a one-shot lead as the big names struggled in the first round of the Malaysian Open on Thursday.

Rock had seven birdies and one bogey over the par-72 Palm course at the Saujana club on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur but European Ryder Cup stars Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood, along with New Zealand's former US Open winner Michael Campbell, failed to master the hot conditions.

Clarke shot 74, eight strokes off the pace, while Westwood and Campbell opened with 75s.

India's Shiv Chowrasia was in second place one stroke behind Rock after firing a five-under-par 67 while Australia's Kane Webber, American Edward Loar and Argentine Rafael Echenique shared third place on four-under 68.

Rock was forced to pull out on the eve of last year's event because of illness but is happy to know that he will be around this time at least for the second round.

"It was pretty boring being stuck in the hotel room all week," the 29-year-old Rock told reporters.

"Six under is my lowest round since playing the European Tour. My name usually comes off the leaderboard quite quickly once it gets on there so at least it will stay up there overnight."

The Malaysian Open is jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour and provides regional players the chance to compete against top pros from Europe in their own back yard.

Thai Thongchai Jaidee, the 2004 and 2005 winner, overcame lack of sleep to shoot one-under 71 and put himself in a good position to win his third title.

"I didn't play bad. I'm still a bit tired because of jetlag," said Thongchai, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Monday after top-20 finishes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

India's Jeev Milkha Singh, last year's Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, also scored 71 to stay in contention.

Westwood, the 1997 Malaysian Open champion, found water twice and struggled with his putting.

"I can't see a line on these greens now and I'm struggling to see a score under par. I don't know how others have gone round in under par. That is amazing," said Westwood.