SSP Chawrasia set the early pace as the 2018 Race to Dubai got under way on day one of the UBS Hong Kong Open.
All eyes at Hong Kong Golf Club were on Tommy Fleetwood who was beginning the defence of the title he won in such dramatic fashion in Dubai last week.
But it was Chawrasia - a man with one more European Tour win than Fleetwood - who played his first ten holes four under to lead the way from Thailand's Rattanon Wannasrichan.
Fleetwood was then at two under alongside Ryder Cup star Rafa Cabrera Bello, American Julian Suri and South Africa's Thomas Aiken.
Road to Oman winner Tapio Pulkkanen had the honour of hitting the first tee-shot of the season but it was Indian Chawrasia who got off to a quick start after teeing off on the 11th.
The two-time reigning Hero Indian Open champion birdied the 11th, 13th, 16th and 18th to edge ahead of Wannasrichan, who had gains on the 13th, 15th, 16th and third with a bogey on the 18th in his first 12 holes.
Englishman Fleetwood also started on the 11th and he book-ended his first nine holes with birdies on the 11th and first.
Spaniard Cabrera Bello had gains on the 13th and 14th in his first eight holes, while Suri had birdies on the 12th and third in his first 11.
Aiken had also played 11 holes and he had a roller coaster start, birdieing the 15th, 17th, second and third but dropping shots on the 12th and first.
There were then another eight players under par including 2014 winner Scott Hend and Ryder Cup star Matthew Fitzpatrick.
