Belgium’s big-hitting Nicolas Colsaerts put himself back in contention to again win on the European Tour with a new Callaway mini-driver.

Colsaerts posted seven birdies in a three under par 69 to end the opening day of the BMW PGA Championship sharing eighth place.

The double Tour winner has finished no higher 24th at Tour HQ but with a new club in the bag Colsaerts has given himself a superb chance also in ending a three-year winless drought.

Nicolas Colsaerts delighted with a new Callaway mini driver that is like a 2-wood on steroids.

“This new Callaway mini driver is like a 2-wood on steroids”, he said.

“It’s a pretty good club, and I’m glad I have it in the bag this week.

“I haven’t been hitting the driver all that well lately, and out here, it’s not a golf course where I need to hit it out of the boots.

“But then with this new Callaway mini driver the thing goes quite a long way, so it works perfectly for this course.”

The new Callaway mini driver.

Indeed Colsaerts was equal second longest off the tee on day one with a best drive of 285 yards.

But while Colsaerts managed to pick off seven birdies he was a little disappointed to have also recorded four bogeys including one on 17, and then also walking off the par five 18th with a par and in a round of 30 putts.

“It was a little frustrating over the last couple of holes as I missed stupidly a couple of short putt,” he said.

“It’s frustrating because I really had the course by the neck, and I don’t really shoot the number I deserved, so I’m probably going to head straight to the putting green.”