SOTOGRANDE, Spain: Germany's Martin Kaymer got off to a slow start in his bid to become world number one when he hit a one-over-par 72 on the first day at the Andalucia Masters here Thursday. The 25-year-old, who needs to finish in the top two this weekend to end Tiger Woods's 281-week reign as the world's top golfer, trailed by six shots at the end of the first round at Valderrama Golf Club. Kaymer has won his last three events, but will need to improve Friday after a round with four bogeys, including three in a row from the 11th hole. If he fails to finish in the top two the absent Lee Westwood, resting a calf injury, will replace Woods at the top of the world ranking. Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal led the way with a two-shot lead on Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and Ireland's Damien McGrane after shooting a five-under-par 66. The 27-year-old Spaniard, whose only European Tour success was at the Open de France in 2008, hit five birdies. “For me, it is almost a record to shoot a bogey-free round at Valderrama and five under is just great, I played really well,” Larrazabal told the European Tour website. “I learned a lot three years ago when I played here for the first time. You need lots of patience, par is a good score. I tried to minimise the mistakes and luckily a few birdies showed up.” US Open champion McDowell, who currently sits second in the Race to Dubai behind runaway leader Kaymer, boosted his chances of topping the European standings by carding three birdies in a bogey-free round of 68. “I am very pleased. Valderrama is a tough golf course, even if you play your best golf,” said McDowell. Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin and India's Shiv Kapur are a further shot back after both hitting 69. Maybin is currently 58th in the Race to Dubai, with the top 60 gaining qualification for the season-ending tournament. France's Thomas Levet carded a 73 after a stunning start that saw him double-bogey the first before claiming an eagle two at the second. – Agence France
