STOCKHOLM, Sweden (PA) -- Chris Wood began his professional career with a level-par 70 to be only four off the lead at the SAS Masters on the European Tour.

The 20-year-old from England, who decided to leave the amateur ranks after his fifth-place finish at the British Open last month, then received some good news.

Allowed seven invitations to try to avoid the qualifying school at the end of the season, Wood was told that in addition to next week's event in Holland he will also be playing the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles that follows.

"I didn't play great today. There were quite a few good shots, but quite a few loose ones as well," said the 6-foot-5 former England international, who has joined the stable of Ernie Els and Ryder Cup quartet Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and David Howell. "The week after The Open was pretty mad and it's nice to get a run of tournaments now.

"My game is pretty consistent and I can see myself finishing top 20 quite a lot of times, so if I can have a good putting week then hopefully that becomes top 10 or top five."

Wood's first hole as a pro was a bogey 5, but he then birdied the seventh and 11th and after dropping a shot on the 13th got back under par immediately with a third birdie.

The biggest disappointment was missing a tiddler to bogey the long 17th, but a par on the tough 213-yard last into the wind made dinner taste better.

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