Three of the world's top four golfers are at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic this week, but it was two players outside the top 100 setting the pace at the start.
Spain’s Rafael Cabrera Bello and German Marcel Siem both had eight birdies to lead by three from Dane Thomas Björn, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh and another Spaniard, Pablo Larrazabal.
Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer, second and fourth on the Official World Golf Ranking, were among those not teeing off until the afternoon - Abu Dhabi winner Robert Rock was another - but Lee Westwood had to be content with only one birdie in his first seven holes.
Westwood was playing with Paul Lawrie, who triumphed in Qatar on Sunday, and the Scot also birdied the long 13th - their fourth of the day - before adding a second birdie on the 425 yard 16th.
The 27 year old Cabrera Bello shot a European Tour record-equalling 60 to win in Austria three years ago and this time he had seven birdies on the back nine to turn in a brilliant 30 before also picking up a shot at the tenth.
Westwood birdied the 17th and 18th to improve to three under, while Lawrie was on the same mark after also two-putting the long 18th.
Third man in their group was Swede Alexander Noren and he leapfrogged both of them by holing his approach to the first for an eagle two.
The Emirates course was there for the taking with almost no wind, but not everybody was prospering with 22 players over par.
Cabrera-Bello knew he had a chance for The European Tour's first 59 when he started for home with two more birdies.
That made it an incredible nine in 11 holes, but on the par-72 lay-out he still needed four more - and he did not make the most obvious one at the long third.
Siem needed to birdie the par five last for a personal best of 63, but his second shot found the lake and with a bogey six he was round in 65.
The former World Cup winner had only one explanation for what happened on the 18th - mud under the ball.
Westwood had an eagle opportunity on the third, but three-putted for par. He then bogeyed the 188 yard next after leaving a chip short of the green, but hit his approach to three feet on the next and returned to three under.
