Intro:

Alexander Levy carded a flawless opening 65 at a damp Lake Malaren in the opening round of the BMW Masters on Thursday to lead by one shot at seven under par.

Script:

France's Alexander Levy made the ideal start to his bid for a third European Tour title of the season - and second in China - at the BMW Masters on Thursday.

Levy, who won the Volvo China Open in April and the rain-shortened Portugal Masters three weeks ago, carded a flawless opening 65 to finish seven under par, one shot ahead of compatriot Romain Wattel, Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo.

Grillo's round was also a flawless one at 66 and was achieved despite cracking the face of his driver during his round.

Graeme McDowell, who won the French Open at Le Golf National earlier this season, is two shots behind Levy after shaking off jet-lag to card a 67 in the first event of the Tour's Final Series.

McDowell's Ryder Cup team-mates Thomas Bjorn and Jamie Donaldson are among a six-strong group on four under par.

Here's Donaldson chipping in for birdie at the par 3, 6th.

Justin Rose carded a level-par 72 after recovering from being four over par after his first four holes, the world number six having run up a triple-bogey eight on the par-five 13th.

Ian Poulter struggled to a two-over-par 74 which contained five bogeys and three birdies and left the world number 43 joint 62nd in the 78-strong field.

But where he struggled Edoardo Molinari didn't, he took the shot of the day honours with his tee shot here at the par 3, 4th. A hole in one.

He ended the day with a 2-under 70, 5 shots back of Levy.