Khan takes early lead in Hamburg

Khan's round began with two birdies and an eagle

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD:
(GB& Irl unless stated)
-7 S Khan
-6 L Slattery, O Wilson
-5 Z Scotland, R Gonzalez (Arg), J Axgren (Swe), C Rodiles (Sp)
-4 P Casey, C Hoffman (USA), M Warren, J Bickerton

Simon Khan took a one-shot lead on the first day of the Players' Championship of Europe in Hamburg.

His seven-under-par first round of 65 left him one ahead of Lee Slattery and Oliver Wilson, with Zane Scotland in a group of players a further shot back.

Wilson and Slattery are both looking for their first Tour win and set the early pace.

But birdies at the opening two holes and three more in the final six ensured Khan finished the day in top spot.

At this year's French Open Khan came close to the second Tour win of his career, and the 35-year-old said his start to this round reminded him of that lone success, at the 2004 Welsh Open.

"It reminded me of Wales when I shot a 61 in the second round," he said.

"It was a great start and when you do something like that you have to try to forget about it, just as you'd try to forget a bad start.

"You have to think you're back to level par and stay positive."