PAUL LAWRIE shot his lowest round in two years for a commanding start to the Made in Denmark tournament in Farso.
The Aberdonian carded a bogey-free 65 which was good enough for third place and cemented a return to form for the veteran.
Lawrie said: "I've been getting better for a while. I've been playing nicely recently and I've certainly been putting better for about a month now."
The Scottish No.2's round was overshadowed, however, by the performance put on by David Horsey, who shot a course record 63 to claim the first-round lead.
Horsey carded seven birdies and an eagle in his eight-under-par round at the Himmerland Golf and Spa Resort to lead by one from Welshman Oliver Farr.
Seven players were in a tie for fourth on five under, including England's Graeme Storm and John Parry, Wales' Bradley Dredge and leading Dane Soren Kjeldsen.
Horsey, playing the back nine first, started superbly with an eagle at the 11th. Five successive birdies from the 13th took him to the turn in 28 - the lowest nine-hole total on the European Tour this year.
Another birdie at the second raised the prospect of a first 59 in the tour's history but he bogeyed the fifth and then missed an eagle putt at the sixth.
Horsey told europeantour.com: "It's always fabulous to get off to a start like that. It was a little disappointing not to make a few more (birdies) on the front nine - my back nine - but eight-under 63 is a great score.
"The magic number (59) crept into my head going down the fourth. I wouldn't say it affected me too much but I three-putted, then made a mess of the next hole.
"After that it was just about getting to my strategy and finishing strongly, and I managed to do that.
"I'm pleased with how I handled myself in that situation and you don't get many opportunities to shoot 59, so I can probably be excused for letting it creep in."
Tour rookie Farr recovered to shoot 64 after bogeying the 10th, his first. He excelled on the front nine, picking up strokes on sixth successive holes from the third, including an eagle at the sixth. He looked set to take a share of the clubhouse lead until bogeying the last.
Farr said: "It is a fantastic start to the tournament. I had a little spell where it got hot. Luckily I got a good score but there are three more days to go."
Parry looked set to equal him but bogeyed the last
Marc Warren's chances took a heavy blow as the defending had a triple-bogey seven on his last – the ninth – to finish one under.
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