Intro:

Joost Luiten of the Netherlands opened with a six-under-par 65 on Thursday (18 September) at Celtic Manor to lead the Wales Open by a stroke from Nicolas Colsaerts and Andrew McArthur.

Script:

The scene of a famous European Ryder Cup win in 2010, the Celtic Manor Resort plays host once again to the Wales Open.

The tournament features four men who will play in the 2014 Ryder Cup next week at Gleneagles.

And one of those had a day to forget.

Stephen Gallacher posted a seven-over-par opening round.

Lee Westwood will also line up for Europe against USA in eight days' time.

The Englishman managed a two-over-par 73. He carded a six after finding the water with his third shot from the side of the green.

Thomas Bjorn is the third golfer in the Ryder Cup quartet.

The 43 year-old rallied for an even-par 71.

Jamie Donaldson is aiming to win his national Open before making his Ryder Cup debut at Gleneagles.

The world number 28 carded a one-under par 70.

England's Paul Casey, the winner last week of the KLM Open in the Netherlands, also signed for a 70.

Nicolas Colsaerts almost ended the day at the top of the leaderboard.

This eagle at the 18th buoyed the Belgian as he went on to complete a round of 66, five strokes under par, a tally later matched by Scotland's Andrew McArthur.

Out in front is Joost Luiten.

Luiten is at six-under after a 65, one shot clear of Colsaerts and McArthur.