Friday, July 7 2006 15:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dublin: Retief Goosen today took the first tentative steps back up the golfing ladder to regain his place among the elite players in world golf.

The ice cool South African has suffered a dramatic slump in form and confidence in the past two years since he won the second of his two US Open titles at Shinnecock Hills in 2004.

He reached an all-time low when he missed the cut in this years US Open at Winged Foot last month.

However, after a two week holiday, a change of putter and work on his swing, he returned to action at the European Open at the K Club in Ireland and a three under par first round 69 put a smile back on his face.

"I have really been struggling," said the 37-year-old.

"Suffering such a bad loss of confidence has never happened before in my career," he said.

"But I holed a few nice putts out there today and I could feel the confidence starting to come back," he said.

"Also the swing changes that I have introduced started to work and mentally that has got to be a help," he said.

Goosen was four shots adrift of the early leaders, Sweden's Nicklas Fasth and Bradley Dredge from Wales, who both produced seven under par 65s.

However, with the scoring lower before lunch when a series of rain showers started to descend on County Kildare, all the early leaders found themselves with one name to fear.

Englands Paul Casey arrived in Ireland this week refreshed from taking a week's break from golf following his victory in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in Scotland.

And the break has recharged his batteries at the end of a staggering run of success in which he had also racked up five other top 10 finishes in two months on the European Tour.

Casey produced a six under par 66 and with his Ryder Cup place for September already assured, admitted he was a completely different golfer from a year ago when he suffered a slump after the outcry that followed his "I hated the yanks" slur during the Ryder Cup.

"A year ago playing at Wentworth I feared for the safety of the crowd," said Casey. "But what I work for is to be in contention every week and now I am achieving that. Hopefully it will continue for a long time," he said.

The Agentinian Angel Carbrera matched Caseys 66, and just behind from the morning starters were the Belgian professional Nicolas Colsaerts and Australian veteran Peter O'Malley.

Irish tournaments in recent years, however, have been plagued by bad weather and the day was no exception.

Squally rain moved into the K Club after lunch and the arrival of a stiff breeze later in the afternoon restricted the scoring opportunities for the second half of the 156-strong field.



Although Welshman Stephen Dodd bucked the trend by picking up four birdies in five holes on his back nine to shoot a five under par 67, he was a rare exception to the rule.

Scotlands Colin Montgomerie did manage to reach four under par but then drove into water off the 18th tee and dropped a shot, leaving Peter Hanson as the only player to record a 68 in the bottom half of the draw.