Alejandro Cañizares recaptured the form which has seen him win multiple DP World Tour titles as he fired an opening 62 to share the lead after the first round of the 2022 Omega European Masters.
The 39-year-old Spaniard has endured a difficult year so far, with his best finish of the 2022 campaign coming at the Catalunya Championship where he came joint-42nd.
But he was back to his best in the mountains on Thursday morning, firing nine birdies and a solitary bogey to join South African Thriston Lawrence at the top of the leaderboard on eight under par.
Lawrence, who started from the tenth tee, made six birdies before closing his round with a pitch-in eagle for a spotless 62.
Four-time DP World Tour winner Matt Wallace was in a tie for third on six under after his 64, alongside fellow early starters Louis de Jager and Eduardo de la Riva, as they made the most of favourable morning conditions at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club. Scott Jamieson then joined them on that mark in the afternoon.
Past champions were in the mix after day one of the 50th staging of the Omega European Masters on the DP World Tour, with last year's winner Rasmus Højgaard on five under and Sebastian Soderberg at three under.
Cañizares got his first birdie of the day at the short third, launching his tee-shot to seven feet before rolling in the putt.
A three-putt bogey followed at the fourth but he bounced back with a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth before making back-to-back gains on the ninth and tenth.
Brilliance on the greens inspired another birdie hat-trick at the 12th, 13th and 14th, which took Cañizares to eight under.
He then closed his first round with four straight pars, producing a brilliant save at the 18th after missing the green a long way left.
The two-time DP World Tour winner was pleased with his day's work, saying: "It was a great round, I started off really comfortable.
"My goal today was to focus on the targets, not my swing, since it hasn’t worked lately. I did that well.
"Even though I made a three-putt early on, I knew I was hitting the shots that I wanted. Really happy to bounce back from that one.
"I kept going, kept hitting good shots. It felt almost like it was unconscious. That is what I’m working on, to forget about technique and let it go.
"It’s difficult if you don’t practise it enough. I did that today. Putted great, made two up-and-downs on the last two. I’m over the moon.
"(Shooting a 62) might change how I feel, but my goal will be the same. Focus on my targets, to just believe, and let it go.
"That’s my target for the week. I know I can putt, I know I can make great up-and-downs – I’ve just got to let it happen."
Lawrence, the first winner of the DP World Tour era at the Joburg Open back in November, waited patiently for his first birdie on Thursday, notching four pars before opening his account at the 14th.
He then reeled off three straight gains from the 16th before picking up further shots from around ten feet at the fourth and sixth.
A closing eagle put the finishing touches to Lawrence's 62 as he pitched in from 31 yards at the ninth.
He said: "Bogey free, so that’s always a tick in the box.
"Started off nicely, a lot of fairways, a lot of greens, gave myself a lot of 15-footers and managed to make a few.
🚨 HOLE-IN-ONE! 🚨@A_Cockerill wins CHF 30,000 worth of life insurance provided by Vaudoise Insurances.#OEM2022 pic.twitter.com/kvDIa8vfvW
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) August 25, 2022
"A nice little pitch in on the ninth to finish off, so very pleased about that.
"It’s been awesome, the whole season has gone well. It was nice to have a top ten last week and to open here with a 62 is always a pleasure.
"It’s lovely, how can you not enjoy this scenery? Even if you’re playing badly, you still have something to look at. Amazing golf course, amazing views, I’m having lots of fun."
Aaron Cockerill made a hole-in-one from 170 yards at the third, with his ball bouncing once before landing in the cup.
