EDDIE Pepperell returned after a month out with injury to shoot a four-under-par 68 in the first round of the BMW Masters in Shanghai.

The Abingdon golfer pulled out of the PGA European Tour’s Turkish Airlines Open a fortnight ago to rest his back after suffering a slipped disc.

But Pepperell showed no lack of sharpness as he fired five birdies, his only bogey coming at the last hole.

The 24-year-old stands joint ninth – four shots behind the leader, Sergio Garcia, who carded a scintillating eight-under-par round of 64.

The Spaniard holds a one-shot lead over Korean, Byeong Hun An, and Victor Dubuisson, of France.