Defending champion Soren Kjeldsen and 1999 British Open winner Paul
Lawrie shared the lead Thursday at the Andalucia Open after each
shot a 5-under 65 in the opening round.
Kjeldsen made seven birdies around the Parador Golf Course on
the Costa Del Sol in a return to form following a dip toward the
end of 2009 after the Dane became embroiled in a lengthy legal
battle with his former manager.
"My former manager owed me several hundred thousand euros and
when I asked him for it, I discovered all the money had been
spent," Kjeldsen said. "It was a lot of money and it was a big
distraction from my golf, so it's nice to shoot low again."
Ranked 35th in the world at the start of the year, Kjeldsen
has secured a place to play in The Masters next month. But he has
since slipped to 51st and failed to join many fellow Europeans
warming up for the first major of 2010 at Bay Hill this week.
"I would have like to have played Bay Hill but at the same
time I also wanted to defend the Andalucian Open title, which I won
last year," Kjeldsen said. "So dropping out to 51st made my mind up
for me and I am glad I came here to Spain. In the end, if you are
playing well in the buildup to a major it doesn't matter whether
you do it in Spain or America."
Lawrie recently returned to coach Adam Hunter, with whom the
Scot worked during his Open victory at Carnoustie and who has
recently been diagnosed with leukaemia.
"That should help cheer him up a bit," Lawrie said of his
opening round.
A group of eight players are a stroke behind.
