Fisher breaks course record to lead way

(CNN) -- Englishman Ross Fisher produced the lowest round of his Tour career after shooting a course record nine-under-par 63 to lead the European Open by two strokes after the opening round at the London Club on Thursday.

The 27-year-old, whose biggest impact previously this season was to blow a chance to beat Phil Mickelson with a closing triple-bogey eight, finished with six successive birdies to leave some of the biggest names on the circuit trailing in his wake.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and 48-year-old South African David Frost both carded 65s to lead the chasing pack.

"It's probably the best, most solid round of golf I've ever played," said Fisher, who won his first Tour title in the Netherlands last August.

Fisher had successfully come through 36-hole British Open qualifying at Sunningdale on Monday and discussed with his manager how much he had left in the tank for this week.

Asked if he considered pulling out, Fisher replied: "I sort of had a thought about it. I was feeling pretty tired, but how do you pull out of an event when you live only 40 minutes away?

"It's pretty difficult to sit at home and watch it on TV, knowing that you are playing well. So I thought, 'Let's see how we go'. Have a few days off and if I feel fine I'll play."

Defending champion Colin Montgomerie went around in 70 as he tries to follow up his runners-up finish in France, while British Open champion Padraig Harrington -- recovering from a stiff neck -- struggled to a level-par 72.

Meanwhile, McDowell is in a good position to return to the top 10 of the Ryder Cup standings, after losing that position last week.

A win here will take him back up to sixth in the table but he admitted: "I've not looked at the table for weeks -- I know I've got to perform and all I can do is focus on day by day.

"The race is only just beginning now we're into the meat and bones of the season," he added.

Of the other big names, Paul McGinley and playing partner Justin Rose both posted three-under-par 69s, while Darrren Clarke and Sergio Garcia carded rounds of 71.