North Berwick’s Catriona Matthew returned to the Ladies’ European Tour to make a terrific start in her the Madrid Ladies’ Masters with a faultless five birdie 67 on a day of glorious Spanish sunshine. 

Having spent most of the year in America, Matthew finished just one shot behind a trio of leaders – England’s Kirsty Taylor, South African Stacy Lee Bregman and Spain’s Tania Elosequi – and stood in a share of fourth place with Spain’s Paula Marti.

Clare Queen, the only other Scot in the elite 43-strong field, opened with a disappointing 80 and was tied for last place. 

Matthew has won five times worldwide, with her European victories coming in the 1998 McDonald’s WPGA Championship of Europe at Gleneagles and in last year’s Scandinavian TPC in Sweden.

In the ideal conditions, Matthew made back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth and again at the 11th and 12th before completing the handful at the 14th.