Bjorn shifts gear to cruise into BMW contention

DENMARK’S Thomas Bjorn recovered from a sluggish start to find top gear in the defence of his BMW International Open title in Munich.

Bjorn opened with eight pars at Nord-Eichenried but then birdied eight of the remaining 10 holes to race home in just 29 shots.

That gave the Dane an eight-under-par 64 and share of second place alongside Germany’s Marcel Siem and English duo David Howell and Gary Emerson, two shots behind leader Raphael Jacquelin of France, who equalled the course record with his 62. English duo Lee Westwood and Paul Casey were a shot further back alongside 1997 champion Robert Karlsson of Sweden, while Ernie Els was six off the lead after an erratic 68.