Marcus Fraser, Paul Broadhurst and Magnus A Carlsson all hit four under par 67s to share the lead at the Madrid Masters on Thursday but comeback king Jose Maria Olazabal was within reach at one under.
The leaders ended the first day at the Club de Campo Villa a shot better off than a group of five including home player Pablo Larrazabal, who compiled a three under 68.
Spanish star Olazabal, a former double Masters champion who is making a third return to the tour after a series of injury setbacks, shot a commendable 70, three shots off the pace.
Fraser had a bogey-free round, the Australian posting birdies at the fourth, eighth, 14th and par three 17th.
Broadhurst started at the tenth and he picked up shots at the 15th and 18th on the way out. He then birdied the short par three third and the 518-yard fourth.
Back-to-back bogeys at the fifth and sixth dropped the Englishman back but he birdied the seventh and par three ninth to go four under.
"I just stuck in there really and had to make a couple of miracle shots to keep it ticking over," said Broadhurst.
Carlsson had a bogey and two birdies on his front nine. But he didn't drop a single shot on the way in and the Swede birdied the par five 14th. That was followed by a spectacular eagle two at the par four 15th.
"The last few weeks I've been working a lot on my game and have started believing in myself," he said.
