Thomas Linard set the early pace on day one of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation as typically changeable conditions played their part at the K Club.
A 90-minute downpour soaked the course for the early starters but they were not finding it easy going in the soft conditions, with just ten players under par.
Leading them was Challenge Tour graduate Linard, who turned in 32 to reach three under and lead by one shot from English duo Tyrrell Hatton and Ross Fisher.
The Frenchman made a good start to his rookie European Tour campaign before Christmas when he finished in a tie for fifth at the Alfred Dunhill Championship but he missed four of his next five cuts.
He then made it into the weekend at the Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation and held a share of the first round lead at the Trophée Hassan II last time out, a feat he was aiming to emulate at the K Club.
He was certainly making a good fist of it in County Kildare as he birdied the first, second and fourth but he dropped a shot on the next before making a gain on the eighth.
Hatton had birdies on the 13th and 18th after starting on the back nine and briefly took the lead with another on the fourth but gave the shot straight back on the next.
Fisher was another fast starter with three birdies in his first five holes but he double-bogeyed the 16th before bouncing back to sit one off the lead with five to play.
Nicolas Colsaerts, Bradley Dredge, David Drysdale, Tommy Fleetwood, Thongchai Jaidee, Roope Kakko and Shane Lowry were then all at one under.
Tournament host Rory McIlroy and defending champion Søren Kjeldsen were among the afternoon starters.
