Spanish Open: Oldcorn back with a bang

Andrew Oldcorn fired a superb 64 on the opening day of the Via Digital Spanish Open in Valencia and claimed his magical round was down to a change in attitude.

The 41-year-old Scot has been out of the limelight for the past few seasons but he returned to the top of the leaderboard with a bang after yesterday’s eight-under-par score.

Oldcorn’s playing schedule has recently been disrupted by two events he claimed had given him a new perspective on the game.

He said: ‘‘I’ve only played two tournaments this year, in Dubai and Madeira.

‘‘Two things have made me change my attitude on the golf course and in life the birth of my daughter Natasha and the death of my friend and manager, Alan Maxwell.’’

Certainly the Bolton-born pro did not seem to have a care in the world as he amassed eight birdies thanks to some iron play of the highest quality.

He said: ‘‘I’ve played some excellent golf on a great but demanding course.’’

Oldcorn will know however that on the European Tour’s first stop on the mainland, several high-profile names are lying in wait.

Darren Clarke, for instance, who burst out of stalls yesterday morning with six straight birdies, only to lose momentum and settle at the end for a 67 - three behind Oldcorn.

Serious contenders for a title on home soil are also bound to be the Spanish trio of Sergio Garcia, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jose Maria Olazabal.

Yesterday they returned 69, 71 and 69 respectively on their return from the US Tour, and all three will be keen to claim a trophy that none of them can yet boast on the mantelpiece.

Other Brits in contention include Englishman Andrew Raitt and Scot Graham Rankin, both at five-under after 67s.

Raitt, 31, burst into life on the ninth, from where he had six birdies in seven holes to move to six-under, only for a dropped shot at the 16th to cost him an overnight share of second place.

Rankin meanwhile had made his first cut all year at last week’s Moroccan Open, and his relief at having done so could well have contributed towards his back-nine 31, five-under-par.

Ian Garbutt returned a tidy 68 to lie a further shot back, with Andrew Coltart, David Lynn, Warren Bennett and Steven Webster among the group on 69, three under par.

It was another unhappy day however for Spaniard Seve Ballesteros, three-time winner of this event.

The 44-year-old five-time Major winner failed to record a birdie in an uninspired four-over 76, leaving his chances of making the weekend very slim indeed.