England's Tommy Fleetwood and Scotland's Marc Warren were part of a four-way tie for the lead after the first round of the British Masters.

Finland's Mikko Ilonen and South Africa's Richard Sterne also shot a five under par 66.

Lee Westwood, 43, who had a disappointing Ryder Cup, is one strike behind after six birdies at The Grove.

Masters champion Danny Willett, 29, was forced to pull out before he was due to tee-off because of a bad back.

"It's the best I've played in quite a while," said England's Westwood, who failed to win any of his three matches as the United States beat Europe to win the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2008 earlier this month.

"It was just one of those days where every putt I hit felt lovely and overall, five-under is a great score out there," he said.

Warren's only dropped shot of the day came on his final hole, after four birdies and an eagle on the par-five second.

Former Ryder Cup player Jose Maria Olazabal carded a 73 in his first competitive round since missing the cut in the Masters last April.