Martin Kaymer and Ross Fisher set the clubhouse target on day one of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation in trademark wild conditions at the K Club.
A 90-minute downpour had made conditions tough for some of the early starters and while that softened the course up, the wind arrived in the afternoon to ensure anything under par would be a fine effort.
Fisher and Kaymer mastered the Irish elements to post rounds of 69 and get to three under, one clear of Nacho Elvira and Matthew Southgate, who were also in the clubhouse.
James Morrison made three birdies in his opening four holes to also grab a share of the lead, with tournament host Rory McIlroy among the later starters just a shot off the summit.
Kaymer had spoken coming into the week about his desire to begin a big summer in County Kildare but he was an aggregate of 14 over for his past three opening rounds at this event.
The German turned in 38 after a bogey on the 11th but he picked that back up on the third before finding the green in two on the next and rolling in a 30-foot putt for eagle.
Another gain would follow on the ninth to move him alongside Fisher who had already finished a rollercoaster of a round.
Also starting on the tenth, the Englishman birdied three of his first five holes but then double-bogeyed the 16th before a birdie on the 18th saw him turn in 35.
The 2010 champion then had two birdies and two bogeys in his next six holes before a gain on the ninth saw him move into the lead.
Southgate had three birdies and three bogeys in his round before the Englishman eagled the last to fly up the leaderboard, while Elvira recovered from three bogeys in his first six holes to get to two under.
McIlroy began with three straight pars but the local favourite then birdied the fourth and a brilliant approach to the sixth saw him make his move.
Dane Thorbjørn Olesen, who arrived in Ireland without a set of clubs after having his stolen, was also among a group of seven players out on the course at two under.
There was then a large group at one under with 32 players within two shots of the lead, including Masters champion Danny Willett.
