Forsyth is quick to prove his worth

Alastair Forsyth made a flying start in his bid to recapture the European Tour card he lost in controversial circumstances last year in the Bell's South African Open yesterday.

The Scot hit a first round six-under-par 66 at Durban Country Club to lie two shots behind the leader, Sweden's Carl Pettersson in a six-way tie for second place alongside England's Andrew Butterfield and the South Africans Des Terblanche, Ashley Roestoff, James Kingston and Tim Clark.

"I played a lot better today than I did at the end of last year," Forsyth said. "I worked a lot over the winter – only on the driving range at Hamilton because of the weather."

Forsyth is playing in the event on an invite after missing out on his card by one place on the Order of Merit last year. Sergio Garcia was included on the money list despite playing in only 10 events – one less than the minimum requirement for membership – but was credited with 11 due to the cancellation of the American Express Championships in the aftermath of 11 September.

If Garcia had not been included Forsyth would have moved up to the 115th and final qualifying spot, but the European Tour refused to exclude the Spaniard and instead reached a compromise with Forsyth and his manager Ian Doyle, who had threatened legal action. Forsyth was guaranteed 26 starts this season on a mixture of invites.

* In the New Zealand Open at Parapaumu Beach an eagle on the final hole sent the young Australian Scott Gardiner into a first-round lead. The part-time European Tour player eclipsed more experienced opponents for a seven-under 64. Tiger Woods ended on one-under. "The putts I did hit good didn't go in, and the putts I didn't hit very well weren't even close," he said. The 13-year-old qualifier, New Zealander Jae An, making history as the youngest player to tee off in his national open recorded 71, tied for 47th place.