Henrik Stenson continued his recent brilliant run of form to shoot a 66 and sit just three shots behind leader Marcus Fraser after the opening round of the Olympic Men's Golf Tournament.
The Swede is searching for his third win in as many months after winning the BMW International Open in June and then claiming a stunning 20 under par victory for a maiden Major Championship at The Open Championship last month.
His last outing was a tie for seventh at the US PGA Championship and the World Number Five was pleased after recording six birdies and a single bogey as golf returned to the Olympics for the first time in 112 years.
"Hopefully confidence doesn't wear off that easily," he said. "More than anything, I'm just focusing on my game and what I need to do, and I feel like I've got pretty good control over most areas of my game
"I was happy, I played solid golf in tough conditions. I thought I hit the ball nicely and had quite a lot of chances. Only one dropped shot around 18 holes today is a very well played round. Putter was working nicely as well."
Frenchman Grégory Bourdy was a shot behind Stenson after a 67 that contained just a single bogey after a ragged tee-shot on the 16th.
The four-time European Tour winner has been in fine form of late - securing seven top 25s in his last nine events - and feels the inspiration of playing for his country could fire him to greater heights.
"It's an amazing experience to be here, playing an Olympic Games," he said. "It was really one of my biggest goals for the last few years to be here and to perform, to play well. I'm very happy to start my Olympics.
Even if we play individually, we play for France, we play for the country. So it's like a big French team - Grégory Bourdy
"We practised with the other French guys, we practised four days together, like we were a team, actually. But we play individually.
"Now we want the best for each other. It's so nice to play for France with French colours."
Thomas Pieters was also at four under on a good day for Belgium with team-mate Nicolas Colsaerts just a single shot further back, and Colsaerts admits it would be a dream come true to claim a medal.
It would mean a lot from a personal point of view and in a national point of view. It would be a dream come true - Nicolas Colsaerts
"It's not the first time golf is here but it will pretty much feel like it, in the modern era, anyway. I feel honoured to be here. I really feel proud to be on that list of players that have supported the event."
South Korea's Byeong-hun An was alongside Colsaerts after going out in the very first group of the day.
The reigning Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year has the Olympics in his blood with his parents both having claimed table tennis medals in 1988, but he insists they have not told him to change his approach for the world's biggest festival of sport.
"Not really," he said. "Just do what I did the last couple of events. It's just one golf event and don't worry about the medals and try to finish as high as you can and try my best. That's all they wanted I think.
"It was little bit more special, especially the first hole, just to realise finally I got to play in the Olympics."
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