Haeggman enjoys welcome return to form

Joakim Haeggman made the most of some very local knowledge to claim a share of the clubhouse lead in the Valle Romano Open de Andalucia.

Haeggman lost his card last season after a serious shoulder injury and missed the cut in seven of his eight events so far this year before arriving on the Costa del Sol.

Scroll down to read more:

But the decision to hire local resident and former European Tour professional Olle Karlsson as his caddy paid instant dividends with a first round 67 at Aloha Golf Club.

"It makes a nice change to get a good round under my belt," said Haeggman, the first Swede to play in the Ryder Cup at The Belfry in 1993.

"I haven't been driving the ball well and not putting up to my usual standards and that's a pretty lethal combination.

"But it was good to have Olle on the bag, he was always telling me 'Don't aim

away from the flag, it's only a wedge' and it worked.

"He lives here now, he even walked to the course this morning, and he's

played it a million times so that helped a lot."

Haeggman carded seven birdies and two bogeys to join South African Charl

Schwartzel at the top of the leaderboard, while playing partners Thomas Bjorn

and Miguel Angel Jimenez - whose company is staging the event - recorded rounds

of 71 and 72 respectively.

For Bjorn, a 71 was a welcome return after doubts about his form and fitness.

The Dane had missed the cut in two of his last three events since an encouraging

11th place in the WGC CA Championship in Miami in March, and then injured his

wrist in a fall while giving a television interview at home in Wentworth.

The cast was only taken off on Saturday and the 36-year-old had just this week

to find some form ahead of the defence of his Irish Open title next week.

"I played really well apart from two bad drives on the first and second,"

said Bjorn, who recorded four birdies, one bogey and one double bogey. "I also

three-putted the last when I got a bit greedy but there was a lot of good golf

out there today.

"The wrist was a little bit stuff this morning but I need to get it warm this

week because I'm not sure it's going to be so warm next week."

Ryder Cup team-mates Lee Westwood and Paul McGinley were among the later

starters, playing alongside Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, winner of last

week's Italian Open.