Gloomy skies, but the rain stayed away as the first round of the European Open teed off in Bavaria in Germany.

Graeme McDowell got off to a steady start.

His putter firing nicely on his way to a three-under 68 - tied with Richard Karlberg.

Ross Fisher ended with a four under 67.

The Englishman producing one of the shots of the day at the fifth with a well judged chip.

To the delight of the home galleries, Bernhard Langer turned back the clock.

The German with a brilliant round of 66, thanks to a blistering back nine including this birdie at the 10th.

Five birdies in nine holes on the way back, he ended the day in a tie for seventh.

That was level with Hunter Mahan.

The American making the long trip over and it proved to be worthwhile - some wonderful approaches, this setting up an eagle at the 10th.

But the lead was set at seven-under by two Europeans.

Frenchman Benjamin Hebert -making birdie here at the eight.

And Austrian Bernd Wiesberger.

Wiesberger almost holed out at the 15th, and a 64 ensured he ended the day in a share of the lead - one clear of a group containing Graeme Storm and Richard Green.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Bernhard Langer

"I am very very pleased with five under, 31 on the back nine is a great result for me, some of the holes are a bit long for me but I am trying to do my best."