England's Gary Boyd and Italian teenager Matteo Manassero were the early clubhouse leaders as the Alstom Open de France began.
Just over a month since running up two tens in an opening 88 at the ISPS Handa Wales Open, 25 year old Boyd produced a bogey-free 66 at Le Golf National near Paris.
Boyd, twice a runner-up since graduating from The Challenge Tour at the end of the 2009 season, shared the early lead with Manassero, also round in 66, and Swede Christian Nilsson, who was still on the course.
After three birdies in the first four holes former amateur international Boyd picked up more shots at the ninth and tenth and then parred in over a closing stretch sure to create drama when the 2018 Ryder Cup is staged here.
Manassero, who already has two European Tour wins to his name, also had five birdies and no dropped shots, while Nilsson still had four dangerous holes to come.
Some of the bigger names got off to rocky starts, but were fighting their way back in it.
World Number Three Lee Westwood was four over after a double bogey at the 15th - his sixth - but then came four birdies to take him back to level par, the same as Graeme McDowell, who had kicked off his challenge with a double bogey.
Open Champion Darren Clarke and Ryder Cup trio Justin Rose, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey were all among the later starters.
