Lorenzo-vela keeps his head together to shoot 63

Mike Lorenzo-vera reflected on a satisfying return to action after making an impressive start to the omega European Masters.

The 34-year-old Frenchman took a five-week break to get married and move house and put some of his success down to the mental side of his game after taking a share of the lead after the first round.

The event has attracted some of the sport’s big names, yet it is Lorenzovera and Matthias Schwab, both of whom are targeting a first European Tour victory, who set the pace with opening rounds of 63 at Crans Montana.

Scotland’s David Drysdale is in a tie for sixth, two shots off the lead after a 65.

Schwab set the target in the morning with a bogey-free effort before Lorenzo-vera came home in 29 to join him at seven under par.

He told the European Tour website: “I’m very happy because I just had five weeks off. It was a stressful five weeks with a wedding and moving plus two kids. I managed to bring the head together pretty well today.”

The 34-year-old added: “The best thing to do (with so much going on) is to have a very, very good psychologist, that you call often. I’m not kidding, that’s really what I do.”

Austria’s Schwab birdied the fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth, and a chip helped set up a birdie on the par-five ninth as he turned in 30. Another gain on the 13th put him two clear and a two-putt birdie on the 15th moved him to seven under.

Lorenzo Gagli, Mikko Korhonen and Sebastian Soderberg are the closest challengers a shot back, one clear of a group of six including Tommy Fleetwood, Jamie Donaldson and Drysdale. Sergio Garcia is in a group of 11 three shots off the lead on four under par, one clear of world No 2 Rory Mcilroy, who has 15 for company.