CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — Masters champion Danny Willett made a strong start in the opening round of Thursday's European Masters in Switzerland as he looks for a form boost ahead of the Ryder Cup later this month.
Willett, who won last year's event at Crans Montana in the Swiss Alps, finished with a flourish after sinking an eagle on his final hole for a five-under par 65.
The Englishman, who has just one top-20 finish since April's Augusta triumph, is among a group of nine players one stroke behind the leading quartet of Paul Peterson of the US, French pair Mike Lorenzo-Vera and Gregory Havret, and England's Daniel Brooks.
Australian Marcus Fraser, who led the Olympic golf tournament at the halfway stage before falling back into a tie for fifth, also shot 65 along with Open championship revelation Andrew Johnston.
Willett is one of six European Ryder Cup rookies in captain Darren Clarke's squad for the Sept. 30-Oct. 2 showpiece at Hazeltine in Minnesota.
