Kevin Phelan insists he is not feeling the pressure at the UBS Hong Kong Open as he attempts to secure his European Tour card for next season.
The Irishman came into the week 123rd in the Race to Dubai and needing a top six finish at Hong Kong Golf Club to maintain his playing privileges for 2016.
An opening round of 66 was a solid start, placing Phelan just two shots off the lead held by Lu Wei-chih and Andrea Pavan after six birdies and two bogeys.
The 24 year old admitted he had almost written off his season after missing the cut at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship but Eddie Pepperrell's withdrawal from the Portugal Masters with a back injury gave him the chance to play last week and he is just delighted to still be in the mix.
"I'm pretty relaxed about the whole thing to be honest," he said. "I'd pretty much given up on the season after not playing well at the Dunhill Links so to get in Portugal last week was a bonus and then to get in this week was an even bigger bonus because I think I was 15th reserve to start with.
I didn't even think it would be a possibility to play so that's helped me get in a really good frame of mind because it's all lucky in a sense - Kevin Phelan
SSP Chawrasia does not have as much work to do to get himself across the 110th place threshold with a result of 63rd or better enough to see him safe for next term.
The Indian also fired a 66 in a confident start to what he admits is an important week.
"I just cross my fingers and play," he said. "I just keep my confidence and play because I know I'm borderline. So it's a very important week this week.
"I don't take much pressure. I'm just playing my game.
"I played really well, started five birdies in a row, one bogey. So I'm happy with four under.
"Honestly I was hitting very well the front nine, and the back nine, I struggled a little bit."
One man breathing much easier than Phelan and Chawrasia will be Oliver Fisher, another player who opened with a 66 on Thursday but who sits five places inside the line at 105th in the standings.
That may give him some cause to look over his shoulder but the 27 year old feels his game is coming together at the right time.
"It's not bad," he said. "My game's getting there slowly. I've had a steady last nine or ten weeks. I think I made pretty much every cut the last few weeks. I'm getting there slowly.
"It's just a matter of doing a few things a little bit better, hitting a few more fairways, hitting a few more greens and make a few more putts. I guess a little bit of everything to be honest. My game's not far away.
"It's a nice start. I would have taken it before today, that's for sure."
He added: "It's always nice playing here in Hong Kong. The course is good. I've played it a lot of times. I played it the first time as a junior, when I was like 14 or 15. I've been around this place quite a few times over the years, and it's a nice start and hope I can keep it going tomorrow."
