Golf: TAKE A BOW MAC, YOU'VE JUST HIT 66; Paul shares lead at The Belfry.

Byline: BERNIE McGUIRE

PAUL McGinley emerged from the shadow of his more illustrious compatriots to grab a share of the lead on the opening day of the Benson and Hedges International Open.

Powerhouse Paul carded a 66 in a round including an eagle and five birdies at The Belfry to finish tied at the top of the leaderboard with Sweden's Henrik Stenson.

Defending champion, Jose Maria Olazabal, and European Ryder Cup captain, Sam Torrance, had moved into a share of third place, at five under par, when lightning and rain halted play just after 4.30.

Padraig Harrington had birdied 15 and 16 to move to two under par just prior to the stoppage.

McGinley streaked from the Belfry blocks to record his second best scoring effort of the season in 29 rounds on the European Tour.

He posted an eight under par 64 on day two of the Dubai Desert Classic before eventually finishing ninth and then last week, in the rain-plagued French Open, he signed for a third round five under 65 on route to an Irish best of seventh.

McGinley said: "I'm pleased. A 66 is a great score on the Belfry because I don't view it as an easy golf course."

The Dublin golfer's display is nine strokes better off than last year's opening 73 when he failed to break 70 on any of the four days.

He said: "I'm just hot with the putter - very hot. That's the difference.

"My 69s and 71s and 68s don't really count enough. The standard of golf nowadays is so high and so strong, and there are many guys who can do it.

"But the game has gone to a different level and a much different level compared to when I first joined the tour."

McGinley needed to use the putter on just 23 occasions starting from the 10th tee, with a 15 feet birdie.

He dropped his only stroke at his second before holing a 40 foot birdie at the third and a 12 footer at the fifth.

McGinley pulled off the shot of his round, jumping to six under par, when he became the only player in the field of 156 to eagle the par five, third, or the 12th hole of his round.

Afterwards McGinley talked of the need to get himself out of the shadow of compatriots Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke.

McGinley said: "It's not just the Irish golfers, it's all the top players that I compare myself with.

"I do look at Padraig and Darren specifically because both of them are in the top 20 in the world. Padraig and me were at a very similar level two years ago, and he's just gone from 70 something in the world rankings where I am, up to 20.

"I've looked at how he's done it, and I've analysed what he's been doing differently. And it's not just Padraig. It's all the top players in the world. They have all improved significantly.

Clarke, carded a three under par 69 that included five birdies and two less bogeys but only really impressed when he holed a bunker shot for birdie at the tenth and then when he drained a 20 footer for birdie at the last.

Harrington birdied the last four holes to finish four under par and with a share of fourth place.

CAPTION(S):

MISS: McGinley pushes a putt wide but he still shot a 66; HIT: McGinley fires an eagle