Wales' Bradley Dredge made the perfect start to the defence of his title in the weather-affected Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

After a two-hour delay due to overnight frost, Dredge carded a five-under-par 66 to take the clubhouse lead by two shots over Scandinavian Masters winner Mikko Ilonen and Australian Marcus Fraser.

Sweden's Robert Karlsson was a shot further back on two under after a 69, easily the best placed of the five members of last year's Ryder Cup team competing in the first qualifying event for next year's contest at Valhalla.

Playing partners Darren Clarke and David Howell both struggled to rounds of 75, four over par, while Lee Westwood and Paul Casey were among the later starters and both were two over par with five to play.

Graeme Storm, on the back of last week's high-placed finish in the Johnnie Walker Classic, had another good day. He shot a two-under 65 and is tied in sixth spot.

He started with a birdie on the first hole, dropped a shot on the par four 12th, but picked up shots on the 15th and 17th.

Dredge finished second twice in the space of three weeks earlier this season - losing a play-off for the Irish Open to Padraig Harrington and then being pipped by a shot to the Wales Open - but had missed the cut in four of his last six events.

''It seems to suit me round here,'' said the 34-year-old, who won by eight shots here last year.

''I haven't been playing that well of late but I come here and shoot a low score.

''I don't seem to perform very well in July and August, which is disappointing because they have major championships and big events.

''I'm trying to work on it. Everyone goes through highs and lows in the season and I seem to play well from here on in.

''You always want to have a decent tournament as defending champion but it's not often you win back-to-back.''

Dredge currently lies 26th on the Order of Merit and 62nd in the world rankings, and is looking to move into the top 20 and top 50 on those lists respectively by the end of the season.

And the 2005 World Cup winner also has his sights set on regaining his place in the Great Britain and Ireland side to defend the Seve Trophy against Continental Europe at the end of the month.

''I'm in the penultimate qualifying position and I want to play it again,'' added Dredge, whose flawless round contained three birdies and an eagle two on the seventh, where he holed out from 120 yards.

''It was great to play in the last one at The Wynyard and win.''

Eight players qualify automatically from world ranking and Order of Merit points, the former decided after this week's event and the latter after next week's Mercedes Benz Championship in Cologne. Non-playing captains Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros then add two wild cards.