Matthew Fitzpatrick showed Thomas Bjørn all of his match play prowess as he beat the Ryder Cup vice-captain 4 and 3 in the first round of the Aberdeen Asset Management Paul Lawrie Match Play.
The Englishman is battling to make it on to Darren Clarke's team for the biennial clash at Hazeltine but should he fall short of an automatic spot, Bjørn has a first-hand account of his qualities one-on-one.
Fitzpatrick was six up after nine holes and, while 15-time European Tour winner Bjørn showed all his renowned battling qualities to cut the gap, he was able to close out the win.
Next up for Fitzpatrick is countryman Matt Ford, who made five birdies on his way to a 3 and 2 win over Pelle Edberg at Archerfield.
The winner of that match will face 36 holes tomorrow with the round of 32 and round of 16 rescheduled for Friday with high winds expected on Sunday.
"Me and Thomas, we got pretty close the last few months," said Fitzpatrick. "He's given me a lot of really, really good advice I've taken on board. He's obviously a great player and he's a great person to listen to and talk to about stuff.
"Still an enjoyable day. Obviously not so much for him but it was good, I'm pleased to get the first win.
I've been saying it for a while, just hole the putts. I didn't miss one out there today so it obviously makes a massive difference - Matthew Fitzpatrick
"And certainly the early start, I gave myself some chances and you make those and all of a sudden you're well ahead. You can't just ease it in but it makes life a lot easier. It was good to get that done."
Second seed Alex Noren was bogey-free in his 14 holes as the Swede eased to a 5 and 4 win over Scott Jamieson and he will next face Renato Paratore.
The Italian joined Noren in knocking out a local favourite with an emphatic 7 and 6 win over Stephen Gallacher, who has been struggling with a wrist injury in recent weeks.
"It was really nice," said Noren. "I didn't play so good last week at the PGA. I kind of made the cut and just hung in there. I didn't feel that great and then found something on the range yesterday and then worked some this morning.
I felt so much better off the tee and, around here, if you don't hit the tee-shot well, it's not that easy - Alex Noren
"But you get a lot of chances from the fairway. So I was very pleased."
Craig Lee gave the locals something to smile about in a 3 and 2 win over Raphaël Jacquelin and his next opponent will be Nacho Elvira - a 2 and 1 winner over Oliver Wilson.
Sixth seed Matthew Southgate is into the next round after winning an enthralling contest against Kristoffer Broberg. There was never more than a hole in it and it took a stunning approach to the first play-off hole to secure the win for Southgate.
He will next face Michael Hoey, who was a 4 and 3 winner over David Drysdale.
James Morrison set up a last-32 tie with Graeme Storm after he romped through beating Alvaro Quiros 6 and 5.
A birdie-birdie start saw the Englishman quickly move two up against Quiros and while the Spaniard won the fourth, Morrison won the fifth, seventh, ninth, 11th and 13th to ease to victory with seven birdies.
Storm was a 2 and 1 victor over 22nd seed Tommy Fleetwood.
Robert Rock was another English winner as he beat Gary Stal 3 and 2 to set up a clash against Johan Carlsson. The Swede was four up at the turn against Morten Ørum Madsen and emerged a 2 and 1 winner.
Prom Meesawat needed 18 holes to defeat David Lipsky and he will next face Chris Paisley who beat Benjamin Hebert 2 and 1.
The remaining match in that side of the draw will be an all-Spanish affair after Alejandro Cañizares beat Mike Lorenzo-Vera on the first extra hole to set up a clash with Eduardo de la Riva - who also needed an extra hole to beat Callum Shinkwin.
To see all 32 results from day one at the AAM Paul Lawrie Match Play click here.
