McGowan, Ruiz lead Italian Open; Daly three shots back

MILAN, Italy -- Ross McGowan and Marco Ruiz shot 8-under 64s Thursday to share the lead at the Italian Open. John Daly is three strokes behind.

The 609th-ranked Daly, who hasn't finished in the top 10 of a tournament in three years, rebounded from missing the cut at last week's Spanish Open with a 67.

Daly started with six birdies and a bogey on his first 10 holes, then added another birdie and another bogey to finish the first round tied for 14th with nine others.

"I moved the ball up in my stance and that was a good day," said Daly, who underwent stomach surgery last month. "This is the healthiest I've been in more than a year -- it was brutal with the pain and it's nice to have my swing back."

McGowan had eight birdies, one less than Ruiz, who bogeyed the 12th.

Mark Foster, Marc Warren and Hennie Otto are one stroke behind the leaders, and eight golfers trail by two. Defending champion Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (72) is nine shots back.