Jacobson shines at Valderrama

Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson – the only player to have a round of 60 in either Europe or America this year – was the star of the show again on the opening day of the Volvo Masters at Valderrama.

The 29-year-old had no fewer than nine birdies in an eight-under-par 64 and led by two from Dane Anders Hansen, round in little more than two-and-a-half hours playing on his own at the head of the 57-strong field.

Jacobson produced his 60 just five weeks ago in the German Masters, but never broke 70 the rest of the week and finished only 19th.

Seeking his third victory of the season, he matched Hansen’s outward 32, then had a hat-trick of birdies from the 12th and after failing to get up and down from sand on the next for his only bogey, birdied the next two.

There had been a rash of bogey sixes on the infamous 17th and even an eight from Barry Lane, but Jacobson pitched to within 18 inches of the cup to complete his birdie haul.

If Hansen goes on to win, he should give thanks to tour colleague Marten Olander.

If the Swede had holed his birdie attempt on the final hole of the Madrid Open on Sunday, he would have qualified for this week and Hansen would have missed out.

As it was, the 60th and last man into the £2.4m (€3.5m) tournament was the first to tee off and because Order of Merit winner Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Peter Lonard all stayed away, Hansen found himself alone.

“I had a choice on whether to have a marker playing with me, but I’m fairly quick and I didn’t want to wait for some other guy,” he said.

“My scare was that I would play too quick and not feel I was playing in a tournament, but I kept my concentration high and conditions could not have been any better.

“With the sun out, it was beautiful and inviting to play well. I couldn’t believe how well the course drained after all the rain.”

A 10-foot birdie putt on the first was the perfect start and by picking up further shots on the fourth, sixth and seventh – back as a par five this year - he was out in a four-under 32.

He knew then there was a chance to thrown the gauntlet down and did not miss the opportunity, chipping to two feet at the long 11th and closing with a 15-foot putt.

“I don’t know how to play the 18th, to be honest with you. I just teed off with a driver down the left and said a prayer. It was answered – I was on the fairway.”

With the leaders out last from the second round onwards, Hansen will be in the final group tomorrow with Jacobson.

Spaniard Carlos Rodiles was lying third at four under, while Colin Montgomerie, joint winner with Bernhard Langer last year after their play-off was halted by darkness, eagled the 11th and birdied the 13th to be in fourth spot.

However, Ireland's Darren Clarke, second on the Order of Merit, finished on five over, while Scots Alastair Forsyth and Andrew Coltart and England’s David Lynn could do no better than 10 over par 82s.

Paul Casey, who lost last Sunday when four ahead with a round to go, was heading for something even worse when he double-bogeyed the first, bogeyed the second and had a triple-bogey eight on the 516-yard fourth. But he played the next 13 in one under to be five over.

Padraig Harrington, partnering Clarke, finished on four over par and Lee Westwood two over after a double bogey at the 225-yard 15th.

The only Irish player who did not drop a shot in the first round was Peter Lawrie, who finished on level par. Next best was Gary Murphy, who finished on two over with Paul McGinley a shot further back.