Jarmo Sandelin, a former Ryder Cup player now engaged in an annual struggle to keep his European Tour card, made a superb start to the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland today.

Sandelin, winner of five titles, was a member of the European team beaten at Brookline in 1999.

But he lost his Tour card in 2005, regained it at the qualifying school and hung on to it last year by one place and £61.

With four events remaining this season, the 41-year-old Swede is 125th on the order of merit with only the top 115 guaranteed to retain their playing rights.

A good show this week, when 20th place is worth more than £30,000, would end Sandelin's worries and he was at the top of the leaderboard after 15 holes.

Playing at Kingsbarns - Carnoustie and St Andrews are the other courses being used for the celebrity pro-am event - he stood on six under par, one clear of the field.

Order of merit leader Padraig Harrington, one of 10 of last month's European Ryder Cup team taking part, was level par after seven holes at Kingsbarns.