Bjorn shines after injury lay-off

Thomas Bjorn, playing his first tournament for 10 weeks, wasted no time making the headlines at The Belfry today - both for his golf and his comments afterwards.

The Dane, out of action with shoulder trouble, fired a three-under-par 69 when the Quinn Direct British Masters began, and that was good enough for a share of the early clubhouse lead.

Out on the course, however, Australian Marcus Fraser was five under with two to play.

That was in stark contrast to Darren Clarke and Open Championship star Chris Wood, both of whom signed for rounds of 80.

Clarke had a quadruple-bogey eight at the 445-yard sixth, while Wood, now a professional, hit three drives out of bounds in running up a 10 at the 384-yard 13th.

Bjorn is chairman of the players' committee that will decide the next Ryder Cup captain, and his comments afterwards should bring down the odds on Jose Maria Olazabal taking over from Nick Faldo.

First of all ruling himself out of the job - "I am only 37 and I don't think I was ever in the equation" - he added: "We're not in any rush and we've decided to let the dust settle over this one."

Although the matter could be discussed in Scotland next week, it will be a meeting in the Middle East in January where the captaincy will be put on the agenda, but possibly even later before an announcement is made.

Olazabal, Faldo's assistant last week, said he was hoping to be back on the team in Wales in 2010, but after missing much of this season with health issues there remains a question mark over his playing career and he might be given time to decide on the captaincy.

Sandy Lyle is the other leading candidate and had Colin Montgomerie speak up for him yesterday.

Bjorn declined the chance to commentate on last week's match because he wanted to prepare for this tournament.

After such a long lay-off he had no great expectations. "I was thinking 78-79 and home on Saturday, so everything was positive," he said.

"I was a bit rusty, but my short game came nicely. The tendon trouble was really worrying me, but it's fully mended now and I've no pain."

Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell, the only two members of last week's Ryder Cup side in the field, were among the later starters, as was Montgomerie.

Fraser, just back from a trip home to see his pregnant wife, posted a five-under 65 to lead by one from Argentina's Rafa Echenique, who birdied the final four holes for that.

He is 115th on the Order of Merit and with 115 also being the number who keep their cards at the end of the season it would appear to be of the utmost importance how he plays.

However, he said: "It does not worry me too much. If I lose my card I get to spend more time in Australia, which is good."

Westwood grabbed birdies at two of the first three, McDowell quickly reached two under as well, while Montgomerie matched Westwood's opening three.