SA's Aiken shares British Masters lead

Haotong Li reeled off four successive birdies on the back nine to sit in a four-way tie for the lead alongside Matthias Schwab, Thomas Aiken and Marcel Siem after the first round of the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.

Chinese star Li is enjoying a stellar season, having tasted victory at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and recorded four further top-five finishes - including last month's Open Championship.

And he was on top form at The Belfry Hotel & Resort on Thursday as he bounced back from an opening bogey with seven birdies in his next 17 holes.

Afternoon starter Li finished with a flourish as he picked up shots at the 14th, 15th 16th and 17th to join Schwab and Aiken on six under par, with Siem making it a quartet at the top late in the day.

"I'm very pleased, especially because I just got out from that time off and I felt a little bit rusty the first few holes," Li said. "And just very glad and happy to finish like this.

"My driver is still quite off, but I just hit a lot of mini drivers off the deck and put myself in play. And my approach is sharp as usual, so just gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities."

Austrian Schwab made two eagles, four birdies and two bogeys in his 66 and was pleased with the way he played the par fives, saying: "I took care of the par fives with two eagles and a birdie, which is nice. And then just played solid golf, made a lot of putts, which was nice, and avoided most of the mistakes.

"Everything is going in the right direction. Has been for a while. I'm just not able to really show it on the course. There's a bunch of knots in my head that I have to untie. Today was a great day, and I hope it continues that way."

South Africa's Aiken carded seven birdies and a single bogey in his first round.

He said: "All in all, very pleased with my round. You know, I think the conditions are pretty benign today for this time of year and England."

Germany's Siem also made seven birdies, with five of them coming on the back nine.

He said: "I was a bit rusty, I thought, but I came off a five-week break, and I'm really, really pleased.

"The back nine was fantastic. Gained a bit of confidence.

"I played quite solid the front nine. So I'm very pleased, very happy."

Home favourite Matt Fitzpatrick was one shot off the lead alongside Keita Nakajima on five under.