Jeev Milkha Singh and Gregory Bourdy defied the wet and windy conditions at the Irish Open on Thursday to share the lead.
Not even the bad weather could stop the fans from turning out for the first Irish Open in Northern Ireland since 1953, as they lined the fairways to watch their local heroes play.
India's Singh and Frenchman Bourdy both shot rounds of seven-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead after round one, with six players lying only one shot adrift - Mark Foster, Matthew Zions, Andrew Marshall, Oscar Floren, Mikko Ilonen and Edouard Dubois.
An even larger group lie on five under, two shots back, including Nicolas Colsaerts, Simon Dyson and Padraig Harrington, who was the best performer amongst the Irish contingent.
The three Northern Irish stars didn't do quite as well - Rory McIlroy opened with a two-under 70, lamenting two three-putts in his final four holes that halted his progress, Graeme McDowell had a one-under 71, a double bogey seven on the 581-yard 17th killing his momentum, and Darren Clarke had a 71 as well, a pretty good return for the Open champion, who has struggled with his form all year.
Co-leader Singh, whose dream is to represent India on the sport's return to the Games in 2016, is a real lover of links golf.
"I love links golf, you have to hit a lot of low shots and you have to have a lot of imagination," said the three-time European Tour champion.
"I think a lot of feel and imagination is required, and that's what I love about links golf. The atmosphere and the feel to the golf course is just fantastic. It looks and feels just great."
Like all the players, Singh raved about the atmosphere and the large galleries in attendance.
"The atmosphere and the feel to the golf course is fantastic," said the 40-year-old.
"When you have so many people cheering and watching you I think you feel great."
England's Mark Foster said: "It was just amazing out there.
"I got a six o'clock car to the course and, I kid you not, there were people queueing to get in - even though the rain was coming sideways.
"I've never seen a buzz in the players' lounge like there is this week. People are raving about the course and the size of the crowds."
First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy Martin McGuinness, fresh from his historic handshake with The Queen a day earlier, were also in attendance to witness scenes that might one year soon be repeated at an Open Championship.
It was also a pretty good day for Englishman James Morrison. Three days after winning the Open Championship qualifier at Sunningdale, he carded a hole-in-one on the 14th known as "Calamity Corner", earning him a BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe.
He eventually signed for a four-under 68.
golf365.com