A fine round gave Broadhurst, who returned to action last week after a two-month injury lay-off, a share of the early lead with fellow Englishman Matthew Blackey and Scot Andrew Oldcorn.

Broadhurst hurt his elbow practising in Spain before the start of the season and had to get clearance from golf’s governing body, the Royal and Ancient Club, to compete with strapping.

“I had to make sure it was not construed as an aid,” he said after finishing his round with a hat-trick of birdies.

“My plan was to play in South Africa, Australia and Kuala Lumpur, but I pulled out of all of them to rest.

“I was getting sharp pain from fatty tissue between two bones, but touch wood it’s been okay lately.”

Oldcorn won the Volvo PGA title at Wentworth three years ago but has finished only 100th and 105th on the Order of Merit in the last two seasons.

Last week’s Dubai Desert Classic was also his first event of the year, although that was because a family illness kept him at home in Edinburgh.

The 43-year-old played the back nine first and turned in 33, then picked up another stroke on the 446-yard fifth into the wind.

Blackey, with a best finish of fourth on the European Tour, was partnering Oldcorn and the pair of them both teed off at 6.25am – as did Broadhurst on the front nine.

“I started by holing a 20-foot putt and that always gives your confidence a boost,” said Blackey, from Hayling Island on the south coast.

Ian Woosnam, who has missed his first four halfway cuts this season, was three under par with two to play and shared fourth spot with Worksop’s Mark Foster, Swede Jarmo Sandelin, Dutchman Rolf Muntz and Kent’s Roger Chapman.

Swindon’s David Howell, who shared third place with Ernie Els last weekend, was one under with one to go.