Sweden's Mikael Lundberg was the early leader as the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship began over three courses.
Playing his opening round at St Andrews - Carnoustie and Kingsbarns are also being used - the twice Russian Open champion birdied four holes on the way out to be four under par at the turn.
That was one ahead of South African Trevor Fisher Junior and England's Robert Rock - also both playing St Andrews - David Lynn at Carnoustie and, no doubt buoyed by his part in Sunday's Ryder Cup triumph, Rory McIlroy at Kingsbarns.
McIlroy was not the only European hero going well, Colin Montgomerie made a good start as he tried to return the focus to his own game.
Europe's triumphant Captain has dropped from 135th to 425th in the Official World Golf Ranking from the time of his appointment and is without a top-ten finish for 28 months.
But the 47 year old Scot, playing with his brother Douglas, covered his first six holes in one under par.
Nine of Montgomerie's side are playing in the event - and all of them were at Kingsbarns for the opening round.
Francesco Molinari and Martin Kaymer were also one under par, while Lee Westwood - needing a top-two finish to replace Tiger Woods as World Number One - opened with a par four.
