McIlroy and Kaymer on tail of leader Canizares

Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer began the year battling with each other and that was how it was again today as Ryder Cup qualifying started in Switzerland.

After 12 holes of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland the world’s fifth and sixth-ranked players were both four under par, one behind Spaniard Alejandro Canizares.

McIlroy, back in action after injuring his arm against a tree root at the USPGA Championship three weeks ago, had to wait until only his third hole for his opening birdie at the 410-yard 12th.

The US Open champion then picked up further strokes at the 15th, second and short third.

Kaymer, who pushed McIlroy into second place at the Abu Dhabi Championship in January, birdied three of his first six holes, bogeyed the next, but then had two more birdies around the turn.

Canizares, whose father Jose Maria was a hero of the 1989 Ryder Cup at The Belfry, had his only European Tour victory in Russia five years ago.

He was in the first group to tee off on the back nine, turned in a two-under 33 and then moved into pole position with further birdies at the first, fifth and sixth.

World number two Lee Westwood and Open champion Darren Clarke were among the later starters, while defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez was two under with six to play.

Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal was no example to the players fighting to be in his team when he missed from less than six inches on the 339-yard fifth.

Olazabal had just missed a three-foot bogey putt, casually went to tap it in and missed. With a triple-bogey seven he was down on five over and next to last.