Kaymer leads the way as Rose wilts

VILAMOURA, Portugal -- German rookie Martin Kaymer equaled the lowest round of the European Tour season with a spectacular 11-under-par 61 in the Portugal Masters at Vilamoura.

The 22-year-old German clipped two strokes off the Oceanico Victoria Club's course record and leads by three from Argentina's Daniel Vancsik and Swede Martin Erlandsson.

Lee Westwood and Retief Goosen are in the group four back with Order of Merit title hopeful Justin Rose eight behind and 18-year-old rising star Rory McIlroy 10 adrift.

English star Rose, attempting to leapfrog the absent Padraig Harrington and HSBC World Match Play champion Ernie Els in the money list, made a double birdie start.

But troubled by a back problem, he slumped to a double bogey seven on the long 12th to halt his progress.

Kaymer, already with a second and third-place finish in his first full season, finished with five successive birdies.

"I've been waiting for this day for a couple of weeks," said the 22-year-old.

"My putting has been so-so, but today every putt went in." After turning in 32, Kaymer roared home in just 29 strokes - finishing just one outside the all-time Tour record.

Westwood had a 61 of his own in Cologne last month, but failed to go on and win and the warning for Kaymer was there when he said after his 65: "It's tough to follow up a really low round even when you have lots of experience and know what to expect.

"A 59 is on here if it does not get windy - par is really about 68. I shot 62 in the pro-am without really concentrating and I feel like I left a few out there today."

Westwood's hope is to join Tiger Woods as the Tour's only three-time winners of the season, but this is his last chance. Like Order of Merit leader Ernie Els, Angel Cabrera and some others he has opted for the Singapore Open rather than the Volvo Masters in two weeks' time. E-mail to a friend