Brushed by a fresh breeze on a sunny afternoon, distinguished rivals toiled in vain to catch Bernhard Langer in the first round of the £1.3 million Volvo PGA Championship here on the West Course yesterday. With a glorious, eagle finish, the German shot a seven-under-par 65 to lead by two strokes from a group of seven, including Ireland's Darren Clarke.

Their failure stemmed from varying factors. Thoughts of his new-found status as the father of a baby girl caused Ernie Els to miss from only a foot when carding a bogey at the seventh on the way to a 68. And within sight of sharing the lead, Retief Goosen blocked his second into trees for a bogey at the last.

Then, after missing seven fairways, US Masters champion Jose-Maria Olazabal found solace in a birdie, birdie finish for 68, while his young compatriot, Sergio Garcia, found bogey trouble on the long 17th in a level-par 72. And at the same hole, Sandy Lyle smashed a two-iron 300 yards downwind while finishing with three successive birdies for a 70.

Clarke's position could have been better but for a three-putt par at the 18th. But he was clearly pleased to have maintained a return to form, sparked by a share of seventh place in the Deutsche Bank Open last Monday.

Two years ago, this event became highly significant in his development as a world-class player, when he was squeezed out by a final round of 70 from Ian Woosnam. And his growing maturity was evident in the way he handled the somewhat daunting company of Langer and defending champion Colin Montgomerie.

As it happened, their's was a thrilling three-ball, producing a better-ball score of 62.

"I'm back hitting the ball solidly again," Clarke said with conviction. "It was a difficult scoring day and the company I was in certainly helped. We lifted each other like, for instance, at the fourth where Monty had an eagle and Bernhard and I had birdies, and at the 12th and 14th which all three of us birdied."

The Tyroneman used his five-wood to excellent effect throughout. And he admitted the decision to carry it rather than a two-iron was made only shortly before he started. It fact it was done after he had consulted his caddie, Billy Foster.

The highlight of Clarke's round was a run of four birdies from the 11th, where a sandwedge approach was followed by a 10-foot putt. Then came a five-wood second shot at the 510-yard 12th, where he got up and down from a greenside bunker; a 20-footer found the target at the 13th and he sank another birdie effort from the same distance at the next.

The five-wood was brought into action again at the long 17th, which he reached with a second-shot of 280 yards. Against that background, his play of the 18th was disappointing. After reaching the right fringe of the green in two, he pushed his approach putt four feet wide of the target and missed the next.

Langer's liking for the West Course was never more in evidence than in 1987 when, with a stunning, 18-under-par 270, he beat the aggregate record which had stood to Christy O'Connor since 1959. So we shouldn't have been surprised that this was his best round of the season so far.

Unfortunately, three more like it are unlikely to be enough to get him into next month's US Open from which his exempt status, stemming from a second US Masters triumph in 1993, expired last year. To qualify for Pinehurst, he must be first or second in the Order of Merit next Monday night, which is a tall order, given his current position of 12th.

Did the course inspire him? "Well, I certainly know it well," he replied. "It involves an interesting combination of long and short par fours, demanding a variety of approach shots. You have to think your way around. I like that."

He liked it so well that he kept a bogey off his card while shooting five birdies and a closing eagle. By his estimation, a three-iron approach of 218 yards at the last was "as pure as I could hit it". In fact he almost holed it - and then made no mistake with an eagle putt of three-and-a-half feet.

Supreme confidence against partners who were regularly driving the ball up to 30 yards past him was also reflected in his assessment of a three-wood approach to the 12th, where Clarke needed only a five-wood. "I had 232 yards into the wind and I hit it as good as I could," said the German.

So, it was hardly surprising that Montgomerie should have been somewhat miffed by a 69, especially when he was four under with four to play. "We all leave shots out on the course," said the Scot. But what of Langer? "He doesn't; he makes the most of everything." Just so.