American Notah Begay had further proof today that the people who told him the weather in Europe can be awful were not lying. But it did not stop the 34-year-old former college friend of Tiger Woods from starting the Spanish Open in rain-soaked Madrid with a four-under-par 68.

Only five hours' play was possible on the opening day, but Begay just beat the fading light to set the clubhouse target for the rest of the field, half of whom did not even hit a shot.

Four times a winner on the US Tour before suffering chronic back problems and losing his card, Begay entered the European Tour qualifying school last November and came through it in joint sixth place.

"When I played the US Tour it was rumoured the weather was bad in Europe and I can testify they were not exaggerating," he said.  "Thankfully the food and the service was great because we did a lot of sitting around.

"I also had to play the course blind because my clubs did not arrive until Tuesday night and I was not in the pro-am. My sciatic nerve was really bothering me too, but I've just dealt with it the last couple of years and my wife and I are thoroughly enjoying our time over here."

Also four under par, still with holes to play in the morning, are Swede Steven Jeppesen and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy.

Irish Ryder Cup pair Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke, both looking for a return to form, finished just after 9pm with scores of 70 and 75 respectively.

Without a top 10 finish all season — in Europe or America — McGinley has just slipped outside the world's top 100.

However, after waiting two hours to begin his round and managing only one hole before another five-hour delay the 40-year-old Dubliner hardly put a foot wrong on the sodden Centro Nacional course until two bogeys in the last three holes.

Clarke is playing his first tournament since his early exit from Augusta — and since suffering a hamstring injury when his younger son Conor tackled him when they were playing football.

He was one under at the turn, but struggled home in 40 with bogeys at both the par fives and the fourth and ninth.

McGinley's playing partner Ian Woosnam came in with a 74. The Welshman is still looking for his first pay cheque of the year — and that after making trips to Thailand, Singapore, China and the States.

In the first three of those last year's Ryder Cup captain missed the cut, while in the Masters he pulled out just before the start after a recurrence of back trouble.