David Drysdale and Peter Lawrie carded sparkling 66s to take a one-shot lead at the BMW PGA Championship.
It was an eventful first day's play for many of the bigger names in the tournament, but the leaders breezed through their first rounds - Ireland's Lawrie producing six birdies and no bogeys and Scot Drysdale seven birdies and one bogey on their way to their six under par totals.
The duo lead England's Justin Rose, Welshman Jamie Donaldson, Spaniard Alvaro Quiros and Swedes Richard Johnson and Niclas Fasth by one shot, while a large group that includes Ernie Els - a seven-time winner at the venue and the man charged with toughening the course in recent years - and World No 2 Luke Donald follow a further shot back after opening 68s.
Lee Westwood opened with a two-under-par 70 to lie four shots back. He started poorly with a double-bogey at the par-four third and also bogeyed the 11th and 15th, but three birdies in a row from 12th and a closing birdie-four at the 18th helped lift his total.
Co-leader Drysdale had an amazing bit of luck when his second shot to the final hole went into the water and bounced out again.
"You could hit 1,000 balls and never have it happen," said the 37-year-old.
"I don't know what it hit - maybe a fish. It was a massive break. I don't think I can say what I would have thought if I had taken six or seven there."
Co-leader Lawrie said: "I played so well in practice that I was kind of very nervous starting out.
"I missed a couple coming in, but 66 can't be sneezed at. The course is set up great for me - I'm not one of the longest hitters on Tour, but one of the straightest.
"You have to very patient and I'm quite a patient person. My wife wouldn't believe that, but I am on the course!"
Rose might not have expected such a good score after fearing he might have to withdraw before the round.
"An hour before my tee time, I thought: 'I can't play'. I guess it was some sort of vertigo - I was nearly falling over and was sitting in the doctor's chair for a while.
"He gave me an anti-nausea or something and did a good job getting me ready. I felt fine all the way round."
World No 1 Rory McIlroy was completely off his game on Thursday as he struggled to a two-over-par 72. Even three birdies and an eagle at the par-five fourth couldn't offsey his five bogeys and a double-bogey six at the 16th.
Graeme McDowell also carded a 74, receiving a two-shot penalty at the 18th after going into the bushes.
First the ball moved a fraction as he approached it, and because he did not replace it - the incident was caught on television - a second shot was handed to him by European Tour chief referee John Paramor afterwards.
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