Darren Clarke returned to competitive action with a near flawless 68 in the first round of the Madrid Open and was for a long time the leading Irishman in the field until Padraig Harrington went one better after finally completing an interrupted round.

Clarke has not played since the death of his wife, Heather, from cancer, but after selection as a wild card for next week's Ryder Cup in The K Club, a re-introduction to a competition proper  was essential for the Tyrone golfer.

Clarke gave an emotional press conference at La Moraleja yesterday, but showed nothing but focus today as he shot five birdies and a bogey to be in a share of ninth place three behind French pacesetter Jean-Francois Lucquin.

It is Clarke's first appearance since he crashed out of the Open with a second round 82 in July saying he would not be playing "for the foreseeable future" because of his wife's illness.

"With a warm putter I would have been a lot better," Clarke said afterwards. "I hit 17 greens but I had 31 putts. The greens were a bit slow, not just for me but my playing partners as well."

"I'm not sure I had butterflies but you're always a little bit apprehensive before any round. I wanted to get off to a good start and I did," he added.

Harrington began well himself with four birdies on the front nine, plus a bogey on the seventh, after which his round was interrupted by a lightning threat.  Another three birdies followed for the Dubliner who would have been one closer to Lucquin had he not slipped up on the last.

Harrington and Clarke have Damien McGrane for company in the upper tier. A five-under-par back nine for McGrane was enough for a 68 and a place alongside Clarke.

Next of the Irish is David Higgins on two-under, with Stephen Browne a shot behind him.  Peter Lawrie and Gary Murphy both shot 74s for a two-over finish but Michael Hoey was worst off thanks to a 75.

Clarke's playing partner Thomas Bjorn, who lashed out at Ian Woosnam's captaincy of the European team after losing out to Lee Westwood for the second wild card, had a 69.

Afterwards the Dane was in no doubt Clarke is Ryder Cup-ready. "He'll be all right; he'll be fine," he said of his close friend.

Another Ryder Cup participant, Jose Maria Olazabal, had five birdies, but also back-to-back double bogeys for a 71.