Starting on the back nine, the 33-year-old bogeyed the 12th and 13th holes before picking up a birdie on the par-five 18th to make the turn at one over.

The Worksop player moved to level par with a birdie at the first but bogeys on the second, fourth and seventh dropped him to three over, leaving him with plenty of work to do in the second round.

“I didn’t get many breaks out there,” said a frustrated Westwood, who found water at the 13th and seventh and also struggled with his putting.

“I can’t see a line on these greens now and I’m struggling to see a score under par. I don’t know how others have got it round in four under. That’s amazing.

“The greens are very grainy. I had three-foot putts out there where I couldn’t see the hole over my left shoulder because I am aiming that far right.”

Another player from Worksop, Mark Foster, enjoyed a happier outing as he carded a 69 to put himself in a tie for fourth place, two shots behind early leader SSP Chowrasia of India.

Foster, who also began at the 10th hole, eagled the par-five 13th and had two birdies and a bogey on his outward nine before parring all of the holes on his return to join 2002 Malaysian Open winner Alistair Forsyth of Scotland in a group of four players on three under.

Chowrasia held the clubhouse lead after firing seven birdies and two bogeys in his opening round of 67.

An eight-time winner on the Indian Tour, Chowrasia is seeking his first victory in an Asian Tour event after losing in a play-off to compatriot Jyoti Randhawa at last year’s Indian Open.

“I putted really well and played solidly. It’s a tough course. It’s undulating and you don’t have many flat lies around but it’s a good course and I like it,” said the 28-year-old.

“My feel wasn’t good yesterday, I don’t know why. But this morning, I hit good shots and hit some good putts in practice and suddenly my feel came back.

“I hope I play well this week.”

Argentina’s Rafael Echenique and American Edward Loar were in second place on four under, with Foster, Forsyth, Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina and 2000 Malaysian Open winner Yeh Wei-Tze of Chinese Taipei a further stroke behind.

Two-time winner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand carded one-under 71 while Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn shot a one-over 73.

England’s Robert Rock started well in the afternoon session and was four under after his first 11 holes.

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh was handily placed on two under before dropping a shot with a bogey at the 13th while New Zealander Michael Campbell was two over after 13 and Ireland’s Darren Clarke was struggling at three over through 11.