Strange leads Wales Open after opening 63

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NEWPORT, Wales (AP) -- Scott Strange made five straight birdies in an 8-under 63 Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over Edoardo Molinari in the first round of the Wales Open.

The 31-year-old Australian began his round at the 11th and his birdie run from the 14th gave him a nine-hole score of 7-under 28.

"I played pretty nice all day," Strange said. "With the weather being a bit benign, and you're getting good iron shots away and putting nicely, then there's a chance you'll shoot something good."

Two of his birdies came on putts of 15 and 25 feet.

Molinari, an Italian who won the 2005 U.S. Amateur title, shot seven birdies for his 64 with Jeev Milka Singh, Alvaro Velasco and Ricardo Gonzalez on 65.

British Open champion Padraig Harrington carded a 70 and said he was waiting patiently for his scores to improve.

"Same old, same old," he said. "I was 2-under thinking if I could get a couple more birdies I'd be in good shape. But there you go."

Because of heavy rain Wednesday, the course was shortened by 142 yards to a length of 7,210 yards.

Molinari suffered from tendinitis last year in his left wrist but said a doctor at the AC Milan soccer club cured the problem by the unusual method of fitting a gumshield over his lower teeth to relieve pressure on the wrist muscles.

"I wasn't closing my mouth properly," Molinari said. "My dad is a dentist and he didn't believe it, but it worked."

Singh made a similar start at the Irish Open two weeks ago but fell away. That time, he said, he lost focus during the later rounds.

"Now I'm trying to stay in the present," he said. "That was the key today and that is what I shall be trying to do the next three days."

Colin Montgomerie made a decent recovery from missing the cut at last week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth by shooting a 69 with three birdies and just one bogey.

He said his putting was better after discovering that he had not been looking at the hole when he putted.

"When I look at the hole, it makes me follow through," he said. "I've been decelerating through the ball after being too quick on the backswing. If I look at the hole, I have to accelerate through it."

Miguel Angel Jimenez, who won at Wentworth, withdrew after 11 holes due to a knee injury.

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