Jimenez rests easy in lead before early start

The Spaniard's round was halted by the fading light on a day interrupted for nearly three hours by a thunderstorm. But he is still in a strong position at eight under with the 615-yard par-five 18th to play, leading Thaworn Wiratchant by a stroke after the Thai compiled a 65 before the rain. Sixty-six players have to finish their first round today.

"I'd have preferred to have finished and have had half an hour extra in bed in the morning - that's the best half an hour always," said Jimenez, who hit birdies at the first and second, and an eagle at the par-five third. "I played very well, very solid tee to green and was quite good on the greens."

One stroke further back was a group containing the Englishman Richard Finch, Ireland's Gary Murphy, Welshman Garry Houston and Francesco Molinari of Italy.