Vilamoura, Portugal (My Sportsbook) - Francesco Molinari fired a nine-under- par 63 Thursday to grab a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the Portugal Masters.

Molinari owned the 18-hole lead for the first time in his career and matched his career-low round on tour.

Justin Rose, Alastair Forsyth and Charl Schwartzel share second place at minus-seven. Lee Westwood heads a group of six players tied in fifth at six- under 66.

Molinari opened with a birdie on the first and came back with an eagle on the par-five third at Oceanico Victoria Clube de Golfe.

The 2006 Italian Open winner followed with birdies on four and five to quickly get within two of the early leaders. After dropping a shot on the par-four seventh, Molinari parred three straight around the turn.

Molinari caught fire on the 11th, where he converted a birdie effort and followed with birdies on 12 and 13 to gain a share of the lead.

He was not done either. Molinari made it four in a row as he birdied the par- four 14th to take the lead at minus-eight. After parring the next two holes, Molinari birdied the 17th to move to nine-under.

"It was a really good round, and my putting was really good," Molinari said. "The game was quite solid, but my putting today was a bit more than normal. Usually I'm not really a fast starter. I usually play better in the weekend than in the first couple of days."

Rose birdied four of five holes from the fifth and move to five-under with a birdie on the 11th. He stumbled to a bogey on the 12th, then birdied 14 and 15 to get to minus-six. Rose grabbed a share of second thanks to a birdie on 18.

Forsyth birdied five, six and eight, but they were wrapped around a bogey on the seventh. He birdied the 10th and 12th to climb to minus-four. The Scotsman birdied the final three holes to finish at seven-under.

"Once I got going, I was really solid," said Forsyth. "After maybe four or five holes, I played great all the way in."

Schwartzel opened with birdies on 10 and 11, but bogeyed the 12th. He rebounded with three birdies in four holes from the 14th to get to four-under.

After dropping a shot on the 18th, Schwartzel birdied four of his last seven holes to gain a share of second.

"It is quite a long golf course," Schwartzel admitted. "I think a long hitter does have quite an advantage. I think the fairways are fairly wide, too, so the further you can get it out there, the more of an advantage you have."

Westwood was joined in fifth place at minus-six by Bradley Dredge, Mark Foster, Simon Khan, Mads Vibe-Hastrup and Pablo Martin.

Oliver Wilson headlines a group of six players tied for 11th at five-under 67. Defending champion Alvaro Quiros is one stroke back at minus-four.