Double Major winning John Daly returned from elbow surgery and a first event in four months to post a four under par 68 on the opening day of the BMW Masters in Shanghai.

John Daly ends a near four month layoff after elbow surgery to post a 68 for a share of second on day one of the 2013 BMW Masters. (Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

The American birdied two of his closing four holes in bright but very windy conditions on the Lake Malaren course.

It is Daly’s first event since undergoing the surgery on his right elbow as evident by about an inch-long scare on his elbow.

“Well, not after playing a competitive round in about 14 or 15 months, it felt good out there today,” said Daly.

“When you’re not playing competitively for a while, especially against all of these guys out here, I just kind of stayed calm and just, when you haven’t played in a while, you want to execute and hit solid shots.

“Luckily for me I got of lot of shots that came out right today.  I putted okay and also hit a lot of greens.”

Daly’s last event was in July when he signed for an opening round 75 and then played just three holes of the second round in the Greenbrier Classic but then was forced to withdraw.

It finally prompted the former Open and PGA Champion to have the long overdue surgery.

“My elbow has been ailing me for probably six year, and the last four have been really just brutal in this elbow (holding his right arm) and to finally get surgery done, it’s nice to be able to punch chip shots and pitch three-quarter golf shots again,” he said.

“I haven’t been able to do that for a long time, so it’s very encouraging.

“But after having the surgery I had to stay at home and it’s probably been the  longest period I’ve been in the one place for as long as I can remember.”