'Unconscious' golf sees Canizares in share of lead at European Masters

Spain's Alejandro Canizares achieved his goal of playing "unconscious" golf as he claimed a share of the lead in the Omega European Masters.

Canizares carded nine birdies and one bogey in the space of 12 holes on his way to an opening eight-under-par 62 at Crans-sur-Sierre, matching the score posted by South Africa's Thriston Lawrence a few minutes earlier.

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Jonathan Caldwell is best placed of the half a dozen Irish in action. An opening round 68 has him six shots adrift, with David Carey and James Sugrue a further shot back.

Paul Dunne is level par, with Niall Kearney (+6) and Cormac Sharvin (+9) well down the field.

Lawrence had started on the back nine and picked up six birdies before holing out from 30 yards for an eagle on his closing hole, the par-five ninth.

"It was a great round. I started out really comfortable, " Canizares told Sky Sports.

"My goal today was to focus only on the targets, not to focus on my swing since it hasn't worked lately!

"I did that well even though I had a three-putt early on, I was really happy how I bounced back from that one. I knew I was hitting the shots that I wanted and I kept going.

"It felt almost like unconscious, which is the goal for a golfer to hit unconscious good shots and that's what I'm working on, trying to forget a little bit about technique and let it go.

"It's difficult if you don't practice it enough but I did that today, putted great, made two great up and downs on the last two (holes) so I'm over the moon."

England's Matt Wallace and Scotland's Scott Jamieson were part of a four-strong group two shots off the lead on six under, with defending champion Rasmus Hojgaard another stroke back.

Hojgaard is bidding to join major champions Seve Ballesteros and Matt