Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley made positive starts at the Mercedes-Benz Championship today but both were unable to live with the pace set by runaway leader Lee Westwood.

While McGinley finished on two-under and Clarke was two better at the turn, Westwood carded a brilliant opening round of 61, 11-under, to set a daunting clubhouse target.

The world number 49 stormed home in just 29 shots, covering the last seven holes in seven under at Gut Larchenhof to equal the lowest round of his career.

Westwood had complained about the state of his putting before last week's Omega European Masters, but finished sixth in Switzerland and there looked absolutely nothing wrong with any part of his game today.

Five birdies and one bogey took the 34-year-old to the turn in 32, and after pars at the 10th and 11th the fireworks began. Westwood birdied the 12th and 13th from 12 and 20ft respectively, parred the 14th and then chipped in from 40ft for eagle at the 15th.

Further birdies from 18ft, 18 inches and 18ft at the last three holes put the Ryder Cup star in pole position for his second victory of the season.

"I've been playing well recently and carried it on today," said Westwood, who was one off the course record of 60 set by Fredrik Jacobson in 2003. "I got off to a slow start, level par after four holes, and felt I was one or two behind the field but kept hitting it close like I have been for the last few months.

"The greens are immaculate, the best I've played on in a while and if you start it on the right line it will go in. It was an advantage to be out early but you still have to take advantage and I did that."

At the other end of the leaderboard, David Howell's struggles continued, although he was actually happy to salvage a 73 after starting par, quadruple bogey, bogey.

"It was a good comeback after a debacle of a start," he said.