Bradley Dredge fired an excellent bogey-free 64 to open up a one-shot first-round lead at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
The Welshman finished in a tie for fourth at Doha Golf Club last season as part of an excellent run of form early in the season that saw him record three top tens in his first seven events.
He was at it again on Thursday as the trademark gusting winds stayed away, allowing those playing in both sessions to record some impressive scores in the second event of the Desert Swing.
Dredge led the way with eight birdies to sit a shot ahead of Finn Mikko Korhonen and two clear of Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat, England's Nathan Kimsey and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell.
Aphibarnrat, Kimsey and McDowell had set the pace in the morning with rounds of 66 and with the wind expected to get up, it was thought they would share the first-round lead.
The winds never came, however, allowing first Korhonen and then Dredge to surge past them.
Korhonen made birdies on the tenth, 12th, 13th, 16th, 18th and first and when he added another on the fourth, he was in the lead. He then finished his round with five pars - including an excellent save on the seventh - to allow Dredge to take control.
The two-time European Tour winner turned in 33 with birdies on the first, fifth and eighth and a burst of three in four holes after the turn had him right in contention. An approach to ten feet on the 15th put him in a share and he then drove the par four 16th for another birdie and a one-shot lead.
With calm conditions expected in the morning, Dredge could be in prime position to give himself a foundation heading into the weekend, but he would welcome a bit of wind in the desert.
I'm delighted with the score today. I putted really well - Bradley Dredge
"I understood that today, scoring was going to be good," he said. "It was the opportunity to go at more flags and get the ball a bit closer to the hole.
"Without the wind, it sort of makes it a lot easier to get the score going and get the putts in and get in with some sort of number.
"I prefer it a little bit more windy. I'm a bit more used to playing the wind, I suppose. I quite like it and I get used to it around here as well. It's quite a good challenge. The greens are always firm, so it's always tough to get the ball close to the hole.
"I'm delighted with the score today. A bit surprised, I thought I was going to hit the ball a bit better off the tee than I did but I hit a few more fairways. I putted really well."
McDowell birdied his first three holes and then added further gains on the 14th, 16th and 18th to turn in 30 before coming back in level par.
Kimsey had birdies on the tenth and 14th but came alive on the 16th tee, reeling off four in a row and then putting an approach to three feet on the seventh but he gave the shot back on the next.
Aphibarnrat had gains on the 16th, 18th and first but dropped a shot on the third before finishing with four birdies in six holes, including two to finish his round.
Belgian Thomas Detry, Irishman Paul Dunne, England's Simon Dyson, Spaniard Nacho Elvira, Frenchman Raphaël Jacquelin, German Alexander Knappe, Swede Joakim Lagergren and South Africa's Jaco Van Zyl were five under.
