Denmark’s Thomas Björn overcame a double bogey at the fourth to take the first round clubhouse lead at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf.
Björn was a runner-up with Søren Hansen back in 2001 under the old format – the nearest Denmark have come to World Cup success.
This year’s event at Royal Melbourne offers individual and team prizes, and Björn’s five under par 66 put him on course for both.
An eight foot birdie putt at the last gave the 42 year old a seventh gain of the day and put him one ahead of Wales’ Stuart Manley, Scot Martin Laird and South Korea’s K J Choi.
With his partner Thorbjørn Olesen one under for his round through 11 holes, Denmark also led the team competition by two shots from Choi and Bae Sang-moon of Korea and defending champions the USA.
“I played well today,” said Björn. “I got off to a bit of a not so great start when I four-putted number four and then I thought, ‘well, this could be a long day’, but I kept my composure and made some good birdies.
“I did everything well today. I drove it pretty well.
“There’s so many things that can go wrong on this golf course and you have just got to keep yourself out of trouble and play some smart clubs off the tee and try and hit a lot of fairways and hit the middle of the green.”
Manley, still riding on the crest of a wave having taken the tenth card at The European Tour Qualifying School in Girona last week, holed a 20 footer at tenth for one of five birdies in his round.
“I played pretty well the week before Q School as well, just missed my card on the Challenge Tour,” said the 34 year old.
“So to get my card at Q School then was a big relief. I had played pretty solid and not to get a card at the end of it would be pretty harsh I think, so I’m pretty happy.”
Ireland’s Graeme McDowell had talked up his chances of victory alongside Shane Lowry pre-tournament, and The Ryder Cup star had an eventful front nine.
There was just one par on the former US Open Champion’s card at the turn, with a double bogey coming at the sixth as he took two goes to get out of a greenside bunker.
However, there was an eagle two three holes later as he holed out form the fairway.
Choi had been on course to match Björn’s 66, but was bunkered at the last and bogeyed.
