Golf: Brown all smiles with 68 at Madrid

New Zealand golfer Mark Brown produced one of his lowest starting scores this season in carding a 68 on the Madrid Masters opening day yesterday.

The Auckland golfer had a bogey-free round of four birdies in the Spanish capital to be six shots behind first-round leader Mauel Quiros, who had a 10-under 62.

Fellow Spaniard and world No 8 Sergio Garcia eagled the last to be next best with a 64.

Brown's score is only the third time in 26 tournaments this year that he's broken 70.

"I'm really pleased with a 68 because any time you play in the afternoon half of the draw the greens can always be a little bumpy," he said.

Brown arrived in Madrid lying well down in 117th place on the money list and two places outside the top-115 who will retain automatic membership of the Race to Dubai season for 2010.

But despite having played all four rounds in just 12 of 25 events this year, Brown is exempt on the Tour until the end of 2011 courtesy of last year's Johnnie Walker Classic success.

He took about a month's break from the tour after missing the cut in the British Open and since returning in August, he's contested five events with a best finish being 47th in the KLM Open in Holland.

"I've just been on the wrong side of it and I've struggled with my confidence," Brown said.

"It is very easy to get into that missed-cut mode when you are not thinking that positively."

- NZPA