Kaymer suffers setback in climb towards summit

The German needs to win or share second place with no more than one other player if he, rather than the absent Lee Westwood, is to succeed Tiger Woods in top spot when the American's 281-week occupancy ends on Monday.

Kaymer could only card a one-over-par round of 72, however, to find himself six strokes adrift of first-round leader Pablo Larrazabal.

Three successive bogeys on the back nine ruined Kaymer's round, after he reached the turn at level par, although he at least showed signs of recovery with a birdie at the par-four 16th.

By contrast, Spaniard Larrazabal was flawless as he carded an impressive 66.

The 27-year-old closed with birdies at 16 and 17 to open up a two-stroke advantage over Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell.

US Open champion McDowell, who claimed the vital final point at Celtic Manor to win the Ryder Cup for Europe earlier this month, enjoyed a steady day with three birdies to help him share second with another Irishman, Damien McGrane.

McDowell is currently second in the European money list and his steady day improved his slight chances of catching runaway leader Kaymer, with E500,000 on offer to the winner this week.

"I've got a lot of golf ahead of me yet," McDowell said.

"I'll have to play my best golf to catch him – even then my best may not be enough."

Another Northern Irishman Gareth Maybin was in a two-way tie for fourth with India's Shiv Kapur after he carded birdies at the 4th and 10th holes.

A group of nine players stood a stroke further back and included Ryder Cup winners Francesco Molinari and Miguel Angel Jimenez, with Ross McGowan and Harrogate's John Parry joining them to lead the English charge.

American Ricky Barnes stormed to the top of the leaderboard at the CIMB Asia-Pacific Classic by firing an eight-under-par 63 to establish a one-shot advantage over Ryan Moore.

The 29-year-old carded eight birdies at Mines Resort and Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur to edge ahead of Moore in the first co-sanctioned Asian and US PGA Tour event.

Englishman Brian Davies, Swede Carl Pettersson and Korea's Charlie Wi are tied for third on six under.

Scotland's Martin Laird ended the day in a group of four players on five under par while Luke Donald and Ernie Els are four under following rounds of 67.