Jimenez leads in Hamburg

Miguel Jimenez shot a a five-under-par 67

Spain's Miguel Jimenez took a one-stroke lead in the first round of the European Tournament Players Championship on Thursday with a last-hole birdie.

The Ryder Cup player, who lost a title play-off against Australia's Robert Allenby in a tournament on the same Gut Kaden course in 1994, finished with a five-under-par 67.

I'd like to play as well as last year and try and win every time I go out

Miguel Jimenez

That put him one stroke ahead of British Open champion Paul Lawrie, the morning leader, South Africa's Retief Goosen and British veteran Roger Chapman, who achieved the first tournament win of his 18-year career in Brazil in March.

Frenchman Jean Van de Velde, relishing another encounter with his British Open play-off conqueror Lawrie, is a further stroke back.

World number one Tiger Woods and the player who is chasing him for the US number one spot this year, Sweden's Jesper Parnevik, shot 70s and are three strokes off the lead.

Colin Montgomerie's driver is banned in the US

Colin Montgomerie tried out a driver which has been banned in the US but that could not help him on another poor putting day and the European number one had to settle for a 73.

Montgomerie's ERC driver has a trampoline-effect club face and can increase the Scot's driving distance by 25 yards.

It is banned by the United States Golf Association but not by the Royal and Ancient Club, which governs the game outside America.

Montgomerie claimed his first title of the year two weeks ago and Jimenez is looking to follow suit.

A 25-foot putt from the fringe at the last hole put the Spaniard in with a chance of his 2000 season breakthrough as he edged one in front of the field.

"I'd like to play as well as last year and try and win every time I go out," Jimenez said.

"I realise that's not possible but I am trying to focus on big events like this one.

"I'd obviously like to do well in the majors and be more focused on them too."

Collated first round scores

67 - Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa)
68 - Paul Lawrie, Roger Chapman, Retief Goosen (Rsa)
69 - Joakim Haeggman (Swe), Miguel Angel Martin (Spa), Emanuele Canonica (Ita), Jean Van de Velde (Fra), Stephen Allen (Aus), Domingo Hospital (Spa)
70 - Gary Emerson, Nicolas Vanhootegem (Bel), Tiger Woods (USA), Mark McNulty (Zim), Jesper Parnevik (Swe), Stephen Leaney (Aus), Paolo Quirici (Swi), Benoit Teilleria (Fra)
71 - David Howell, Peter Mitchell, Robin Byrd (USA), Dean Robertson, Ian Poulter, Lucas Parsons (Aus), Andre Bossert (Swi), Lee Westwood, Mathias Gronberg (Swe), Peter Baker, Tony Johnstone (Zim), Ian Woosnam, Jose Rivero (Spa), Costantino Rocca (Ita), Bradley Dredge, Marc Farry (Fra), Bob May (USA), Eamonn Darcy, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra), Knud Storgaard (Den).
72 - Peter O'Malley (Aus), Ian Garbutt, Rodger Davis (Aus), Jorge Berendt (Arg), Geoff Ogilvy (Aus), Ignacio Garrido (Spa), Markus Brier (Aut), Richard Johnson (Swe), Philip Golding, John Bickerton, Michael Jonzon (Swe), Sergio Garcia (Spa), Sven Struver (Ger), Phillip Price, David Carter, Stuart McGregor, Darren Clarke, Nick Price (Zim), Brian Davis, Niclas Fasth (Swe), Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg), Johan Skold (Swe), Nick O'Hern (Aus), Richard Green (Aus), Steve Webster, Ronan Rafferty, Peter Lonard (Aus).