PAUL LAWRIE returned to competition this week in Munich in awe of the efforts of double Major-winning Jordan Spieth when compared to his similar-aged oldest son, Craig.

Lawrie looked very sharp after a three-week break in posting a bogey-free four-under-par 68 on the opening day of the BMW International Open and played in ideal conditions on the Munchen Golf Club on the outskirts of the Bavarian capital.

It left Lawrie only three shots behind the leading trio of Australia's Daniel Gaunt, Dane Lasse Jenson and Spain's Rafa Cabrera-Bello.

Sweden's Henrik Stenson is in a group at five under par and with the World No.7 bouncing back from a triple-bogey 7 at his seventh hole.

Lawrie birdied his second hole and after paring the next seven holes he also birdied his 10th, 14th and the last.

"This Munich course is playing a little tougher then in all the years I have been coming here and they needed to do that to get it a little longer," said Lawrie.

"But then I have been at my golf center most days I've been off and working on my short game at the house while also doing a bit of working out in the gym, so while it's not necessarily a re-dedication, it's more about putting some time aside to work on my game."

With the golfing world is mesmerised with the efforts of Spieth in capturing back-to-back Majors this season, it prompted Lawrie to compare the efforts of the World No.2 to his own eldest son.

"It's just incredible what Jordan Spieth is achieving this year given winning the first two Majors of the year and he is just 21 years of age," said Lawrie.

"I am thinking about my oldest son Craig and we're so happy he's got a card and doing well on the PGA Europro Tour but then this boy Spieth is winning Majors.

"Jordan does seem to be a bit special and The Open promises to be a great week. Knowing Rory, he'll be geared up to take him down and re-establish himself as the best player in the world."

While Lawrie looks to end a three-year winless drought, he is also focusing on three events in Scotland starting over the next fortnight with the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, the following week's 144th Open and the July 30th starting Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match-Play at Murcar Links.

"I normally start playing decent about this time of year and I am hoping I can keep this going as I have a foundation day at Skibo Castle next week where it's gorgeous before three big events back home.

"I will go down to Gullane early to practice on the course for a couple of days and then it will be hard not to be excited to be then going to St. Andrews.

"Again, I have never really had a great Open there [T56th 1995, missed cut 2000, T52nd 2005 & missed cut 2010] so I feel I am due one."

Stirling's Craig Lee capped his round with back-to-back '2s' in his round of one-under-par 71.

Lee landed an 8-iron to 20 feet at his par-three third hole and then holed a 70-yard wedge shot that spun back into the hole at the next, the par-five 13th he was playing as his fourth hole.

"I don't think I've ever done that before but while there was that bit of brilliance there was also a lot of silly shots including that three-putt from 12 feet at the last for bogey," he said.

Chris Doak and David Drysdale also posted 71s, Scott Henry a 72 and Scott Jamieson a 73.