Italian OpenGraeme McDowell made a solid start to the defence of his Italian Open title in yesterday's rain-disrupted first round over the Castello di Tolcinasco course outside Milan.

McDowell, the only player ranked in the top 50 in the world taking part this week, fired four birdies and two bogeys in his two-under 70 which left him four shots behind early leader Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, who had an eagle three at the ninth, his last, on his way to a 66.

Just a shot behind the Spaniard on five under is Gary Murphy, who dropped only one shot, at the 17th, in his fine 67. He shares second with England's Simon Khan, Welshman Bradley Dredge and Argentina's Sebastian Fernandez.

Michael Hoey, with a 72, and Stephen Browne on 77 also completed their rounds, but Damien McGrane was one over through 15 holes and Philip Walton was six over through 14 and must complete their opening rounds this morning.

McDowell isn't the only past champion competing this week. A lot has happened to Scotland's Dean Robertson since he won the Italian Open in 1999. Most of it not very nice.

But after an opening 68 yesterday the 34-year-old former World Cup star declared: "I'm enjoying golf more than ever."

The round left Robertson a massive 10 shots ahead of McDowell's playing partner, former British Open champion Mark Calcavecchia, whose day was memorable for a very different reason. He went off to get married again at Lake Coma after playing.

Robertson looked a real star in the making when he edged out Padraig Harrington by a stroke in Turin six years ago.

They had been Walker Cup team-mates in their amateur days, and later in 1999 the former Scottish champion partnered Colin Montgomerie in the World Cup in Malaysia.

But it was on his return from there that things started to change. A mystery virus left him unable to sleep or eat properly for three months and his weight tumbled from 11 to 9½ stone.

Worse was to follow, though. Robertson began to suffer from clinical depression and missed much of the 2002 and 2003 seasons.

After being given a medical extension to his tour membership, Robertson had to return to the qualifying school last November, and with only a stroke to spare regained his card and could start rebuilding his career.

So far this year he has made only one cut in seven tournaments, but he was always going to look forward to returning to Italy.

"It's no coincidence I've started well here because my Italian Open record is really good and you draw from past experiences," he said. "Being in the right frame of mind is like a shot start every round.

"I'm looking to regain top form. It's about getting in position, being comfortable with it and then moving forward."

Calcavecchia will need a massive improvement just to survive the cut on his debut in the event.

The 44-year-old, whose father's family came from Sicily, did not sound too optimistic.

"I was hitting it crooked with my driver coming here, I'm in constant pain with my back, my feet hurt, my knees creek and my brain's shot," he said.

"But I can't use it as an excuse. I just stank."

One thing he did not do was blame his caddie. Maybe because he was about to marry her.

Calcavecchia's fiancee Brenda - as she was at the time - had written the words "I Do" on his golf balls. Calcavecchia mistook it for "100" and asked her if that was what she thought he would shoot and told her: "You haven't got much faith in me".

"It's disappointing to come over here and have my worst round of the year," he added before switching to tuxedo and Brenda went off to change from her shirt and shorts into what she called her "Princess Di" dress for the evening's ceremony.