Playing early in the morning before gusting winds made conditions tougher at Diamond Country Club, Coetzee made eight birdies and only one bogey to bolster his hopes of retaining his European Tour card. Although small by main European Tour standards, the $163,000 winner’s check would be welcomed by Coetzee, who is 142nd on the money list in his first season.

Equally eager to earn a big check towards keeping his playing card will be Jose Manuel Lara, who was 172nd on the list. The Spaniard has had a poor year, making only seven cuts in 24 starts, but was the only player to keep pace with Coetzee among afternoon players.

However, he failed to make par on the 18th after missing the green with his approach and shot a 6-under 66. That gave him a share of second place alongside Australian Terry Pilkadaris, with Ireland’s Damien McGrane lying third after a 65.

Of the two Europe Ryder Cup players in the field, US Open champion Graeme McDowell fared best, shooting a 3-under 69.

Miguel Angel Jimenez, who started on the 10th and shot 72, struggled with consistency. He made five birdies but had a double bogey at the 17th, where he found water.

McDowell, in his first tournament after a four-week rest, did not start well by bogeying two of his first three holes, but he covered the back nine in 31.

“I made an awful drive at three,” McDowell said. “I hit the ground two feet behind the ball and it went straight into the middle of a bush. … But I hung in tough and drove the ball well on the second nine and made a few putts.

“This week in Austria is all about getting my game in shape and playing some good competitive golf before I head to Celtic Manor (for the Ryder Cup),” McDowell said. “I want to go there with my game in shape because it’s a tough week to have to be working on things there.”
 
 
Pain-free Westwood ready for Ryder Cup 

In London, world No. 3  Lee Westwood, who has been sidelined by injury for six weeks, has eased fears over his fitness for next month’s Ryder Cup.

“I am pretty strong at the moment,” the 37-year-old Briton told the Golf Channel. “I would be fine playing in all five matches (at the Ryder Cup).

“I haven’t had any pain for three weeks. I’ve made great progress.”

A badly swollen right calf and ankle has kept Westwood out since the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio in early August.

He plans to compete in a two-day charity event in Scotland early next week before playing 36 holes in one day later in the week to guarantee he can withstand two rounds in a day if called upon by European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie.

“I haven’t had a drink in four weeks,” said Westwood. “I have lost 12 pounds since the British Open (in July).

“I just want to replicate the Ryder Cup with two matches in one day.”

The Englishman, who has played in the biennial team event against the US on six previous occasions, has seven times finished in the top five at a major championship without achieving a breakthrough victory.

If Westwood is fully fit for the showdown with the US holders at Celtic Manor in Wales from Oct. 1-3, Montgomerie will hope he can be the team’s talisman.