Rory McIlroy made a welcome return to form on the first day of the Andalucian Open but the teenager found himself outshone in southern Spain by Walker Cup teammate Danny Willet.

McIlroy carded six birdies on his way to carding a four-under-par 68 at the Aloha Club to lie three off the lead held by defending champion Lee Westwood. Willet, the new world number one in amateur golf, began his first European Tour event in style and finds himself in a tie for second on six-under.

McIlroy, coming off a run of three missed cuts in succession, started in the best possible fashion, a birdie at the first laying the foundations for a satisfying round. And he was joined on the four-under mark by Meath's Damien McGrane, who picked up three shots in the final three holes to move into contention.

Westwood opened with an 18-foot birdie putt at the 10th and then pitched to within two feet of the flag on the 399-yard 15th to be in the group on two under.

Playing partner Darren Clarke had an eventful round before signing for a one-over par 73. Four bogeys and a double bogey where interspersed with three birdies and an eagle. The roller-coaster ride was epitomised by his eagle three at the par five 16th, only to be followed by a double bogey at the par three 17th.

Clarke revealed afterwards that he had blisters on both feet caused by a pair of new shoes.

"Don't call me stupid because I know I'm stupid," he said. "I played like a part-time professional and part-time 10 handicapper."

It was a good day for Jose Maria Olazabal on his return from seven months out battling rheumatic pains. Worried for his future at the end of last year, the double Masters champion returned a 71 which he claimed was "better than I expected".

Almost a year ago in Portugal, Spaniard Pablo Martin became the first amateur ever to win on the European Tour, and Willett, who received an invitation to play this week's event,  is hoping to emulate him?

"I was joking about it before coming here. You never know — it's always in the back of your mind, but you can't think about it on the course," he said.

McIlroy, whom Willett beat in the second round of the British Amateur last June, was happy to show some form again after three successive missed cuts in Dubai, Malaysia and South Korea.

Leading amateur at last year's Open, the teenager quickly posted third and fourth-place finishes to secure a Tour card after turning professional in September.

On his recent lean spell he said: "I knew I was close and that it was only a matter of time before I started producing the scores. I'm not surprised Danny's up there. I practised with him on Tuesday and from 130 yards in he was stiffing it. Maybe he can do a Pablo."

Welshman Bradley Dredge, who needs to win on Sunday to climb into the world's top 50 and grab a spot in The Masters, shot 70, while Swede Peter Hanson, who has the same target, had to settle for a level-par 72.