Denmark's Anders Hansen battled against a strong wind and a stiff neck to take an early one-shot lead in the Dutch Open today with a six-under-par 65 at the Kennemer course.
Frenchman Christian Cevaer later matched the 65. Austrian Markus Brier and Briton Robert Rock held third place on 66.
A late rally by Paul McGinley for a 72 saw him edge a stroke in front of chief rival Paul Broadhurst in the separate battle for 10th place on Europe's Ryder Cup table.
Without the advantage of a practice round, Hansen, the 2002 European PGA champion, relied on a new set of clubs and a hot putter to share the lead.
With just days to go before he flies out to play in the final major of the season, the U.S. PGA Championship, Hansen hopes his neck pain will go away before he tackles Medinah.
"I just woke up with the bad neck yesterday," Hansen told reporters. "I wanted to play the course because I'd never seen it before but I could only chip, so I had to withdraw from the pro-am.
"I had it treated by the physios but it still isn't good. I hope it's going to get better over the next days."
Hansen included three 20ft birdie putts and a 10-footer for eagle on his card.
The Dane said: "All in all it was a strange situation with not playing the course until today but I putted well, the greens were magnificent and I wasn't that concerned because I knew I was playing well.
"I came here to try to warm up for next week with new clubs in the bag. The long irons carry better. I know I'm going to have to hit the ball higher."
Cevaer, the 2004 Canaries Open winner, is fighting to keep his tour card with his exemption running out at the end of the season.
He gave himself a chance to move up from 114th on the European money-list with a faultless card containing six birdies.
Like Hansen, Brier closed with a birdie to produce his best performance since winning his maiden full tour title in June, his home Austrian Open.
Rock, whose best finish is tied fourth in the 2003 British Masters, collected five birdies without a dropped shot.
One of the tournament favourites, Colin Montgomerie, also warming up for Medinah after taking a break since missing the cut in the British Open, had a disappointing run home for a round of 70, dropping two shots on his back nine, including a bogey on the last.
Montgomerie played with last week's champion and fellow-Scot Marc Warren but it was not a good morning for the maiden winner in Sweden who shot a 76.
