Madrid Open: Switzerland's Julien Clement, ranked 174th on the European money list, was the surprise leader of the Madrid Open yesterday after carding a seven-under-par 64 in the first round.

Clement, who only went to Madrid to get his game in shape for Tour school, marched two strokes ahead of Sweden's Johan Edfors and Australian Terry Price.

A near-flawless round, with just one dropped shot, included eight birdies as the 23-year-old Swiss again showed his prowess for shooting low.

His 64 would have been just a stroke off the course record but for preferred-lies, and followed a 63 in this year's and last year's Spanish Opens.

Ireland's Gary Murphy, bidding to move up from his Volvo Order of Merit ranking of 83rd to make it into the top 60 who qualify for next week's season-ending Volvo Masters, did his prospects no harm with an opening round 68. Graeme McDowell, whose place at Valderrama is already secure, opened with a 70, while the other two Irishmen in the field, Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane, shot 71 and 75 respectively.

One of the hosting Club de Campo course record-holders is Eduardo Romero and leader Clement followed in the experienced Argentine's footsteps by employing his mental coach, Belgian Paul Lagier.

"I just came here to prepare for pre-qualifying," said Clement, "but now I guess I might have a chance of keeping my card.

"I have been able to shoot low and only two weeks ago I had a 65 at Kingsbarns (in the Dunhill Links Championship) but I have been far too inconsistent.

"When you are the only one from Switzerland on tour, it's tough. So for the first time this week I started looking at the game mentally.

"I spoke to Paul two days ago and then at breakfast. He told me things I needed to know, like being more confident, because my scoring was not good enough for the way I was playing."

Clement, whose role model is Nick Faldo, will need at least second place in Madrid to avoid pre-qualifying and may need to win. Edfors, lying 158th on the money-list, is in a similar position.

Price bogeyed the last to deny himself second on his own as he tries to better his second place finish in this year's Portuguese Open.

South African Trevor Immelman is in a group three shots off the lead despite being laid low with a wasp sting the previous day which caused his knee to swell up during his round.

Britain's ex-Ryder Cup player Peter Baker, needing a good result to keep his European Tour card, got off to a bad start with a 73.