• BMW International Open

Kaymer struggles in first round since US Open

ESPN staff
June 26, 2014
Martin Kaymer's round could have been so much better after opening with three birdies © Getty Images
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US Open champion Martin Kaymer gave his home crowd little to cheer about as he stumbled to a one-under round of 71 on the opening day of the BMW International Open.

Kaymer, playing his first competitive round since lifting his second major at Pinehurst, looked like he might continue his fine form when he birdied the opening three holes at Golf Club Gut Larchenhof before adding further gains at 13 and 15, but two bogeys and a double late on left the 29-year-old seven off the lead.

A tale of two Tigers

  • Martin Kaymer was not the only player making a competitive comeback on Thursday as Tiger Woods played his first round since undergoing back surgery in March.
  • Click here to find out how he got on

"It was a tough day for me on the greens," said Kaymer, who was given a rousing reception from the German crowd on the first tee. "It was very, very playable today. It was the best conditions you can get here, but I didn't make many putts, especially the last five holes. It was probably the worst I can do."

England's Danny Willett, champion here two years ago, and playing partner Rafa Cabrera-Bello set the pace with eight-under rounds of 64 to hold a two-shot lead over a seven-strong group at six-under par, including Alvaro Quiros, as well as Britons Michael Hoey, Graeme Storm and Andy Sullivan.

Miguel Angel Jimenez tops a cluster at five-under that also includes Branden Grace, Tom Lewis and Shane Lowry, while last week's Irish Open champion Mikko Ilonen is one of 15 on four-under par.

It was a day to forget, though, for Sweden's Fredrik Andersson-Hed, who carded a triple-bogey, three double-bogeys and three bogeys en route to an 11-over par 83.

BMW International Open leaderboard

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