Hot start by Fisher

England's Ross Fisher continued to make it a week to remember when he began the European Open at The London Golf Club with a spectacular nine-under 63 .

Three days after finishing joint third in the Open Championship qualifier at Sunningdale, the 27-year-old finished with six successive birdies to break the course record set by Seve Ballesteros in 1984 when he played in the official opening with designer Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin.

It was also the lowest round of Fisher's European Tour career.

Fisher was in the second group out at 7.40am and with 10 birdies in all – and a bogey – in the windy conditions, he held an early five-stroke lead over a group of five players, which included India's Jeev Milkha Singh and Swede Peter Hedblom.

Defending champion Colin Montgomerie, meanwhile, finished at two-under 70, while Open champion Padraig Harrington could only manage an even par round.