Cologne, Germany (My Sportsbook) - Soren Hansen fired a seven-under 65 Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

Hansen is a two-time winner on the European Tour and his last win came at this event in 2007.

Young Englishman Chris Wood is alone in second place at minus-six at Golf Club Gut Larchenhof.

Ross Fisher, who shared third place behind Robert Karlsson last year, opened with a five-under 67. He was joined in a share of third place by Scott Strange, David Drysdale and James Kingston.

German legend and 2004 European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer played alongside 2010 captain Colin Montgomerie and Spanish Ryder Cup star Miguel Angel Jimenez.

The Spaniard led the way among the three with a two-under 68. Langer was one stroke back at minus-one and is tied for 35th, while Montgomerie is at even- par 72 after the opening round.

Hansen got his round going with a birdie on the third. He later birdied seven and nine to make the turn at minus-three.

The Dane parred the first three holes of the back nine. Hansen eagled the par- five 13th to jump to minus-five. Trailing Wood by one, Hansen pitched his third to the par-five 15th within inches and kicked in the birdie putt for a share of the lead.

Hansen missed a short birdie putt on the 16th, but managed to take the first- round lead thanks to a 22-foot birdie putt on the par-four 17th. He had a chance to shoot 64, but missed a birdie opportunity from about 20 feet on the 18th.

"It seemed silly easy. I played tremendously when I won here and I've always liked this place," Hansen admitted. "I drove the ball lovely and had the speed right, which is why I holed all these putts."

Wood posted birdies on three and six, then flew up the leaderboard with one hot stretch on the back nine.

The 21-year-old birdied the 11th and made it two in a row with a seven-foot birdie putt on 12. Wood also birdied the 13th and took the early lead at minus-six with a birdie on the 15th.

"I played really steady and never felt like I was going to get myself into much trouble," said Wood, who tied for third at the British Open Championship. "I felt in complete control and had the pace of the greens all day and read them quite well as well."

Former British Open champion Paul Lawrie carded a four-under 68 and was joined in seventh place by Simon Dyson and Francesco Molinari. Nick Dougherty and Soren Kjeldsen headline a group of 10 players tied at minus-three.

Karlsson, the 2008 champion, still has not recovered from an eye infection that has kept him out of competition for over three months now. The Swede has not played since the European Open in May.