Justin Rose and Darren Clarke both started encouragingly at the KLM Open as they aim to clinch a place in the Ryder Cup team.
TaylorMade golfer Rose carded a 67 to finish three under par at the European Tour event in Zandvoort, while Clarke was one shot behind despite bogeying two of his last three holes.
Dutchman Rolf Muntz took the early lead with a six-under-par opening round, while England''s Oliver Wilson, another Ryder Cup hopeful, carded a 69 to finish one under.
Nick Dougherty boosted his chances of making Nick Faldo''s side with second place at the SAS Masters last week, but toiled to a three-over-par 73 in Holland yesterday.
The Callaway player started his round badly by losing a ball at the first hole and appeared furious when signing his scorecard afterwards.
Playing his second event as a professional, Chris Wood also struggled in Zandvoort after receiving a two-stroke penalty for a bad drop. The 20-year-old, who starred as an amateur at The Open last month, finished with a seven-over-par 77.
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