Hansen leads the Volvo Masters

Nothing and nobody could stop Denmark’s Anders Hansen leading the Volvo Masters when it began at Valderrama today.

But at least he did it in style, racing to four under par and a three-stroke lead.

With a field of 57 for the European tour’s season-ending event one player was always going to have to play on his own at the head of things.

That was Hansen, last year’s Volvo PGA champion and last man to qualify under the new rules whereby only the top 60 on the Order of Merit are eligible.

The odd number was caused by the fact that money list winner Ernie Els, fellow South African Retief Goosen and Australian Peter Lonard chose not to play.

Ireland’s Peter Lawrie currently lies in second place.

The big names are out later in the day, favourites Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington paired together and Colin Montgomerie teeing off with Jose Maria Olazabal, the man who beat him in the final of the British amateur championship at Formby 19 years ago.