Gonzalez sets early pace at Open De Espana

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SEVILLE, Spain (AP) -- Ricardo Gonzalez set a hot early morning pace in the first round of the Open De Espana with a 7-under 65 which his rivals failed to overtake throughout the rest of the opening day on Thursday.

Paul Waring of England was a stroke behind and the only golfer within two shots of Gonzalez.

Spain has been good for Gonzalez as the 40-year-old Argentine has achieved half of his four European Tour career victories in the country.

He also already has a taste for the Real Club de Golf de Seville having won the Seville Open in 2004. On Thursday, he produced eight birdies and only one bogey on a course fringed with penal rough.

"The rough here is very thick this year," he said. "Its like a U.S. Open setup. Sometimes you can only hit the ball 50 yards forward.

"But the key to my round was my driving, I only went in the rough three times. Otherwise I put the ball in the right place to attack the holes."

Gonzalez's nearest rival Waring, the former English Amateur champion from Liverpool, scored a 6-under 66 despite having his travel arrangement to Spain badly disrupted by volcanic ash plane delays.

After playing in the China Open he found himself stranded in the United Arab Emirates for a week and reached Seville only on Wednesday.

But Waring used his downtime to practice in the desert every day at a friend's golf club.

"It was a bit of worry because the first scheduled flight that I could get booked on out of Dubai was on May 1 but then fortunately I managed to get a plane earlier," he said.

Among a group of six players in joint third place with 68s was Sebi Garcia of Spain, who was making his debut on the main European Tour almost in total defiance of golfing medical opinion.

The 28-year-old from Mallorca was born with a spinal deformity and cannot swing the club with the full freedom usually demanded by the sport at the highest level.

Yet, Garcia clearly has huge natural talent as in 2009, while playing an event on Spain's National pro tour, he shot a 58 around the Polaris course in Murcia, though off preferred lies.

"My back is a problem and I have to take care of it," Garcia said. "And I was nervous playing at this level for the first time, so I was really pleased with that score."

European Ryder captain Colin Montgomerie looked set to open with a 2-under 70 until he three-putted the 9th green, his last of the day, and his mood quickly deteriorated.

The Scot's concentration was broken by loud pop music from the nearby tented village and, although he was told it had been turned down, he vented his fury on tournament director Miguel Vidaor.

"Should never have happened in the first place," shouted Montgomerie before adding with an expletive deleted: "Is this a party or a golf tournament?"