Golf: Heat is on as Burns warms to his task

Raymond Burns played the round of his life at the BMW International Open in Munich yesterday. The 21-year-old from Co Down shot a seven-under- par 65 that brought a share of the first-round lead with his playing partner, the Swede, Mats Hallberg.

Hallberg went out in 33, but Burns came home in a superb 31, including a spectacular birdie three on the last. He sent a superb six-iron up 162 yards to within three inches of the pin for his seventh birdie of the day.

He won the Challenge Tour last season but has missed seven cuts since moving up. Hallberg, too, has struggled this season and is No 100 in the rankings. But he displayed no shortage of confidence yesterday, turning his pairing with Burns into virtual matchplay.

The bigger names struggled on a day when conditions were perfect. The order of merit leader Bernhard Langer made only 73, one over par, while the defending champion, Mark McNulty, hit 69 to stay in touch with the leaders.