British Masters update: Thomas Bjorn, playing his first tournament for 10 weeks, is just two shots off the lead after the first round in the Quinn Insurance British Masters at The Belfry today.

Bjorn has been out of action since the Scottish Open in early July after suffering a shoulder injury the previous week, but the Dane returned to a course where he won his second Ryder Cup cap six years ago.

At three-under par, Bjorn, chairman of the committee that will next week start discussing the Ryder Cup captain for 2010, is on the heels of early leaders Marcus Fraser of Australia and Sweden's Mikael Lundberg.

Fraser lies 115th on the European Tour Order of Merit and with only the top 115 retaining their cards at the end of the season, his start was of the highest importance.

Holder Lee Westwood shrugged off the disappointment of last week's Ryder Cup defeat to move within a shot of the lead in a tie for third.

Westwood picked up only one point in Europe's Ryder Cup defeat by the US in Kentucky.

"Both weeks are completely different and this week is getting back to the day job," the Englishman told reporters after carding six birdies and two bogeys at the Belfry.

"I put last week in a box and filed it away, you can't carry mental scars or baggage from last week with you. I've always been able to get a sense of reality and perspective that way."

Westwood's fitness regime, which he began three years ago, also helped.

"I started to feel jet-lag with four holes left but I might have gone with eight holes to go (in the past). There are no negatives to being fitter and stronger," he said.

The only other Ryder Cup player involved this week is Graeme McDowell and the Ulsterman found it more difficult to get back into the Tour life, joining early-starter Rory McIlroy on level par after a 72.

McDowell, twice a winner this year, said he needed to focus better to challenge the leaders.

"I wanted to get back to reality and put the shine on a good season but I was lacking a bit of concentration at times."

Darren Clarke had a nightmare opening round of 80. The Ulsterman had a hat-trick of bogeys from the 11th, ran up a six on the long 17th and turned in a three-over 39.

Paul McGinley carded a 73, while Gary Murphy and Peter Lawrie are two-over-par.

Damien McGrane (four over) and David Higgins (six over) complete the Irish contingent.