Stormy weather and a delayed start could not prevent four players from taking a share of the early lead at three under par in The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond Golf Club.
Heavy rain overnight and this morning forced a 90 minute delay at Loch Lomond, play eventually beginning at 9am in damp, overcast conditions.
Ireland’s Paul McGinley, seeking the top-five finish necessary to make it to The Open Championship next week, was among the early starters and picked up a birdie on the third before collecting further shots at the fourth and sixth to improve to three under par.
However, that was not enough to lead on his own as England's David Dixon - leading amateur at The Open in 2001 - made the most of the par fives with a birdie on the third and eagle on the sixth.
Also on three under was Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Australia’s Richard Green, who started on the tenth and birdied the 11th, 12th and 13th holes.
Three of the world's top six players are taking part this week, but World Number Two Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els, ranked four places lower, were among the later starters whose tee-times had been put back by 80 minutes following the rain.
World Number Three Adam Scott had just started his round, running up a triple-bogey seven on the tenth. Scott began the process of recovering from his start with a birdie on the 12th getting him back to two over.
