Malaysian Open: Jimenez storms into lead

Ryder Cup star Miguel Angel Jimenez’s birdie blitz was halted only by the fading light in the rain-delayed opening round of the Maybank Malaysian Open but the Spaniard is still in a strong position at eight under with one hole to play.

Jimenez led by one shot from clubhouse leader Thaworn Wiratchant when he was called off the course after an afternoon thunderstorm meant nearly three hours’ play was lost earlier in the day.

However, with the 615-yard par-five last to come he could further extend his advantage at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

Jimenez, who has won at least once on the European Tour for the last three years, enjoyed a superb start with birdies at the first and second before an eagle at the par-five third took him to four under.

His next birdie did not come until the 10th but he then had a run of three in successive holes from the 14th to leave him eight under.

The 39-year-old Wiratchant, the 2005 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, benefited from the sunny early conditions to sink eight birdies in a seven-under-par 65.

That would have equalled the course record but the scores will not count because preferred lies are in use this week.

“This is a good start for me. I managed to produce a string of birdies. This is my best round this year,” said the Thai.

One stroke further back was a group containing Ireland’s Gary Murphy, England’s Richard Finch, Welshman Garry Houston and Italian Francesco Molinari.

Murphy completed the back nine in four under and three birdies and only one bogey after the turn also brought him a round of 66.

Pre-tournament favourite Padraig Harrington, in his first start of the year, had a promising start with three birdies – at the 12th, 17th and 18th – but could not capitalise on that after the turn as he played the next nine holes in regulation.

Highlight of the day was Ascot golfer Ross Fisher’s hole in one with a pitching wedge at the 146-yard fourth but he immediately carded a double-bogey seven at the next and finished alongside Harrington at three under after a mixed round which included four birdies and a bogey.

When play was called off at 7.30pm local time only a handful of the afternoon groups had finished and 66 players will have to resume tomorrow.