MILAN, Italy — John Daly shot a 5-under 67 today to trail co-leaders Ross McGowan and Marco Ruiz by three strokes after the first round of the Italian Open.

The 609th-ranked Daly, who hasn't finished in the top 10 of a tournament in three years, had seven birdies and two bogeys. McGowan had eight birdies, one less than Ruiz, who bogeyed the 12th.

Mark Foster, Marc Warren and Hennie Otto were one stroke behind the leaders, and eight golfers trailed by two.

Daily briefly held the lead with six birdies and a bogey on the first 10 holes.

"I moved the ball up in my stance and that was a good day," said Daly, who had 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."