• Trophee Hassan II, Round One

McGrane starts fast in Morocco but Daly crumbles

John Daly endured a testing day © Getty Images

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Four birdies in his final five holes saw Damien McGrane take the early lead at the Trophee Hassan II on Thursday.

McGrane, whose solitary European Tour win came in 2008, burst out of the blocks during his opening round in Morocco - making an eagle at his first hole, the par-five 10th, as he reached the turn in 32, before finish with a remarkable flourish that cemented his round of 65 and the clubhouse lead at seven-under.

"I played beautifully today and I'm delighted with it," McGrane said afterwards. "I got off to a fast start and I managed to keep it going and finish it off nicely.

"It is testing out there at the moment, the greens are beautiful out here. If you play well you get plenty of opportunities and it's in pristine condition obviously."

Englishman Graeme Storm also looked set to finish the day at seven-under, before a mistake with a chip shot at his 17th cost him a double-bogey - a blow that subsequently saw him drop another shot at the last as he slipped to four-under - alongside Richie Ramsay, Edoardo Molinari and Kenneth Ferry, among others.

That left Spaniard Alejandro Canizares as the nearest challenger to McGrane's early pace, as he had five birdies in his final ten holes to conjure up a five-under par round of 67.

Searching desperately for the ranking points that will enable him to gain an invite to The Masters, Robert Rock suffered a disappointing day.

Englishman Rock always looked in trouble after running up a seven-over 11 at the fourth, although he did eagle the par-five 17th to salvage a round of 77 that gives him some hope of making the halfway cut.

Matteo Manassero enjoyed a much more promising start under the same circumstances, finishing three-under for the day thanks primarily to five birdies in a stretch of six holes between the fifth and 10th.

The highest ranked player in the field, word No. 44 Francesco Molinari, is two-under after an erratic yet entertaining opening round that saw him pair five birdies and an eagle (at the first, his tenth) with three bogeys and an unfortunate double at Golf du Palais Royal.

Dutchman Joost Luiten is also two-under, a disappointing outcome after he got off to a blistering start with six birdies in his opening eight holes. His troubles paled in comparison to those of John Daly, however - the American returning to European Tour action by coming home in 42, good enough for a five-over par 77.

Daly's troubles were summed up at the first (his tenth) as he contrived to make a quadruple bogey nine, having reached three-under at one point early on.

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