Golf: Forsyth makes bright start in Malaysian Open

Alastair Forsyth took another step forward in his bid to regain the European Tour card he lost in controversial circumstances last year in the Malaysian Open.

The Scot is playing in the tournament on an invite after missing out on his card by just one place on the Order of Merit last year.

Forsyth claimed a share of the lead in the early stages of the first round at Royal Selangor.

Birdies at the first, third, fifth and sixth took Forsyth to the turn in 32 on the easier front nine, and he also birdied 10, 12, 15 and 17 to card an eight-under-par 63, matching the target set by England's Barry Lane just a few minutes earlier.

Lane had also gone to the turn in 32 with an eagle and two birdies, and then rolled in four birdies in a row from the 14th to establish a new course record for the modified par-71 lay-out, the 13th hole having been changed from a par five to a 488-yard par four.

The duo had a two-shot lead over the field with India's Harmeet Kahlon and Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez both carding 65s, and Holland's Maarten Lafeber another stroke back after a 66.

Ian Woosnam meanwhile had begun to shake off the rust of a three-month lay-off with a three-under-par 68.

Nick Faldo, Michael Campbell and Padraig Harrington were all among the later starters facing the worst of the searing heat in the Malaysian capital.

Lane and Forsyth looked likely to hold on to their lead during the afternoon, especially when play was suspended due to an approaching storm and the threat of lightning.

The players were ordered from the course shortly before 4pm local time with the trio of big name stars on the back nine.

Faldo was faring best, the six-time major winner three under after 12 holes, with Campbell one under after 14 and Harrington making a birdie at the 12th to get back to level par.