Practice makes perfect for Bjorn

THOMAS BJORN felt justly rewarded for discarding the swing textbook after surging to the front on the first day of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Bangkok.

The Dane, competing for the first time since early December, carded an eight under par 64 on the Alpine Golf and Sports Club course to finish just a stroke clear of Nick Faldo who managed a near flawless seven under par in his first tournament of the New Year.

Four players England's Ian Poulter, American Edward Loar and the Australian pair of Scott Gardiner and Jarrod Moseley are next best on six under par while British Open Champion, Ben Curtis, and Thai based Scot, Simon Yates are in a big group on four under par. Portrush's Graeme McDowell is the best placed of the three Irish players after managing two birdies near the end of his round of a one under par 71.

Bjorn looked on track for the European Tour's first ever sub 60 round when he brilliantly raced to seven under par through 10 holes before a three putt bogey at the 12th checked his progress. The BMW International Open champion reeled off five birdies and a one foot putt for eagle at the par five, seventh hole and despite the hiccup five holes further one, Bjorn walked from the course delighted to find favour so quickly after intensive gym working and practice sessions in Dubai with coach, Peter Cowen.

"When you have been working hard on your game, as I have, it's hard to know how it will go when you get into competition," said Bjorn.

It was at the end of last season that Bjorn and Cowen both agreed for Bjorn to forget the textbook and not fight the faults in his swing. Faldo revealed he played a look and learn game with Ernie Els prior to a seven hole birdie spree over the inward half of his round.

The 46 year old watched the putting efforts of his South African playing partner and then put what he had observed into effect over his inward half recording six birdies from his 11th hole and taking just 11 putts over the closing nine holes.

"I was just inspired by Ernie putting on the front nine and he just kept brushing the putts in," said Faldo.

"He just rushed them in and that's obviously what you've got to do and it brought me to life so I just played aggressively and finished off the putts, so that was a very good day one for the New Year," he added.

"But playing with Ernie was fantastic and I could see how he makes his scores. You just have to see the hole and don't think of anything else."

Els carded a disappointing two under par 70 whilst Poulter was fortunate he found his way to the first tee after awaking at 4.45am with a severe back pain.

The reigning Wales and Nordic Open champion headed to the course to meet up with personal trainer and former Arsenal Football Club physio, Cam Bhabra, to undergo an intense 40 minute massage session and also took pain-killers to ensure his place in the £1m field.

"I didn't think I was going to be able to play this morning," said Poulter.

"I've had a chest infection for a couple of weeks now and struggled to get rid of that. I was coughing last night, and whether I dislodged a rib or pulled a muscle in my back, I don't know."

Kilkenny's Gary Murphy, carded a one over par 73 in his first event of the New Year.

Murphy started with a birdie but then bogeyed the next two holes before the second of three birdies in his round when he birdied the par five, seventh.

Bogeys followed at the ninth and 12th holes prior to a 10 foot birdie at the 17th.

"I am still a bit rusty considering I haven't played since the Volvo Masters in the first week of November," he said.

"I was a bit scratchy missing a few greens but now that I have this first round under my belt I should be a lot better as the week progresses."

Murphy and his wife spent a fortnight's honeymoon in Mauritius and arriving back to Ireland on January 16. They arrived in steamy Bangkok last Friday with Murphy spending time practicing on the Alpine Club range and getting acclimatised to the heat wave conditions.

"Trying to get acclimatised to this weather has been my main concern whilst I have been finding trouble sleeping at night," he said.

Peter Lawrie managed four birdies in his round but undid his good work when he handed back three strokes over his closing four holes to end with a disappointing one over par 73.