BMW International Open: Martin Kaymer makes solid start, amateur Mattias Schmid impresses.

• Opening round of the BMW International Open suspended in the evening due to storms – play continues at 07:30 on Friday.
• Four players tied for the lead on 7 under par at time of suspension.
• One shot back is a group including Pablo Larrazábal (ESP) and Andrew “Beef” Johnston (ENG, both -6).
• Martin Kaymer, the only German winner of the tournament, is tied in 49^th place on 2 under.
• Best-placed German after 18 holes at Golfclub München Eichenried is amateur Matthias Schmid (-4, tied 16th).
• World number 14, Viktor Hovland (NOR, -4), also makes a good start on his BMW International Open debut.

Munich. After rain overnight, the sun came out for the start of the BMW International Open, making for good scoring conditions. Many of the world-class pros took advantage of this to shoot low scores. Leading the way: Wade Ormsby (AUS), Sam Horsfield (ENG), Masahiro Kawamura (JPN) and Sebastian García Rodriguez (ESP), who lead Germany’s iconic tournament after the opening day.

Ormsby, whose only victory on the European Tour came at the 2018 Hong Kong Open, did not drop a shot on the opening round as he moved to the top of the leaderboard at midday on Thursday. He was later joined there by afternoon starters Horsfield, Kawamura and García Rodriguez. One of the most popular players on the Tour, Andrew “Beef” Johnson, also remained bogey-free. He and Pablo Larrazábal, who won in Munich in 2011 and 2015, are among the chasing pack on 6 under.

Martin Kaymer is another man who knows how it feels to lift the coveted trophy at the BMW International Open, having won in a play-off in Eichenried in 2008. The two-time major winner carded a solid opening round, with four birdies and two bogeys. However, Kaymer feels there is still room for improvement, particularly on the greens. “I had a lot of chances today, but struggled to get the ball in the hole. I felt like I was reading the greens well, but had problems with the pace. Generally speaking, I am happy and I know what I need to work on.”

A large group of players on 4 under includes Mattias Schmid, the only amateur in the field, and one of the most exciting young pros in the world, Norway’s Viktor Hovland. 22-year-old Schmid, who teed off at the US Open last week and will turn pro after the British Open, played a bogey-free round, after which he said: “I played nicely, particularly off the tee, and hit a lot of greens. Unfortunately, I missed the odd putt here and there. However, I am satisfied. It was a solid performance.”

Hovland returned to the clubhouse with a more colourful scorecard, which featured an eagle but also two bogeys. “On the whole, it was good, but a hit a few poor shots – unfortunately, on the par 5 and the short par 4, where I found the water. There are a lot of birdie opportunities on this course, but I have to stop hitting it in the water.”

Bernd Wiesberger (AUT, -5) ended the round in tenth place, setting himself up nicely for the next three days. Major winners Louis Oosthuizen (RSA, -2, T49) and Pádraig Harrington (Even Par, T82) are also still in it with three rounds still to play.

Alex Cejka (GER, -2), who recently won two majors on the US Champions Tour, lies tied with Kaymer in 49^th place, while local favourite Stephan Jäger (GER, +3) endured a disappointing start to his home tournament, with six bogeys and just three birdies. He is tied for 139^th place in a group that includes Max Kieffer (GER) and defending champion Andrea Pavan (ITA). Sergio García (ESP, +1, T104) also has work to do.