Relief as Sandelin signs for 66

Five-time European Tour winner Jarmo Sandelin expressed his relief at posting a 66 in the first round of the Madeira Island Open.

The Swede had to go through the turmoil of the qualifying school last year before getting his card back but he showed a welcome return to form in blustery conditions at the hilltop Santo da Serra course.

There was not a blemish on his card as he finished six under and he said: “It is amazing.

“I cannot remember when I last had a bogey-free round. It is maybe five years.

“I have been on a big rollercoaster and I do not know if this is going to be the week.

“One good round is not going to change anything. I will need 100 good rounds to change that.

“At least today I played a little bit like a champion.”

Sandelin last entered the winners enclosure in 2002 when he took the BMW Asian Open title.

But he struggled to keep his game together and admitted he was in a comfort zone.

When the wind was at its height today, he kept his rhythm to chalk up six birdies.

He said: “When you have a two-year exemption, there is no excitement in going to a tournament.

“It is when you are in danger of losing your livelihood, you have to get a grip of the situation.”

While some of his younger colleagues were wilting in the wind, 42-year-old Gary Emerson was taking things in his stride.

He came in to the tournament refreshed after taking a week’s break and finished with a 68.

He puts his resurgence down to working with Jamil Qureshi, a self-styled mind coach.

Emerson said: “Working with Jamil has been a big help. I am definitely stronger mentally at the moment than I have been in the past.

“Perhaps I have underachieved but my attitude is good now.”

Ireland’s Damien McGrane and Garry Houston of Wales were also left satisfied after finishing on the same mark as Emerson.

McGrane finished his round by chipping in at the last.

“That was a sweet way to finish,” he said.

“I played steady and at least I am running with the pack, which is good.”

Houston used simple tactics to achieve his good score.

He said: “You should never try and get ahead of yourself here – just take one shot at a time.

“I am feeling good at the moment and if you putt well on this course you can get a good score.”

Jean van de Velde finished on three under and the Frenchman was satisfied given his knee problems.

“I have been playing good golf recently and physically I am feeling fine,” he said.

“The knee is tender but I am doing the best I can and I was able to get round this tough course.”

Damien McGrane is best placed of the Irish, joint second and four under. Gary Murphy is one shot off that, joint seventh at three under. Both David Higgins and Colm Moriarty are at four over.