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Storm reigns in Austria

07/06/2007

England's Graeme Storm established himself as the clear leader of the BA-CA Austrian Open after a sensational opening round of eight under par at the Fontana golf club in Vienna.

The 29-year-old, who skipped this week's US Open qualifier because of wretched recent form, looked a different player for his break and did not drop a shot at any hole in a dream start to the tournament.

A precise eagle three on the last equalled the course record and pushed him ahead of the field, which is lead by Sweden's Martin Erlandsson on seven-under.

His compatriot Patrik Sjoland is a shot further back where he shares third place with the English duo of Tom Whitehouse and Shaun Webster.

Lee Westwood is lurking within three of the lead at five-under, but it was a forgettable day for his Ryder Cup colleagues Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie as the two veterans both finished on two-over.

"I just thought there was no point going to the qualifier because if I qualified I was probably not going to break 80 the way I was playing," Storm said of his decision to opt out of the major next week.

"I wasn't going to come here but I thought I needed to play through the bad spell. I had a good start to the season and need to remember that rather than focus on the negatives."

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