Big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros made light of blustery conditions to birdie the first two holes and lead the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club.
While others needed long irons or even fairway woods to reach the opening green, Quiros smashed his drive down to the bottom of the hill, pitched to 15 feet and sank his putt.
A two on the 154 yard second took the Omega Dubai Desert Classic winner to two under par and one ahead of Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke, the only other early starter to birdie the 473 yard first, and English duo Kenneth Ferrie and Ross McGowan.
There were plenty of fans in attendance by 8am and they did not have long to wait to see Luke Donald and Lee Westwood resume their battle for the World Number One spot.
Donald, who missed the chance to go top when he lost to Ian Poulter in Sunday's final, parred the first two holes, chipping to three feet from just off the back edge at the opener.
Westwood, already wearing waterproofs with some rainclouds overhead, did likewise, but US Open Champion Graeme McDowell pushed his first shot into a deep fairway bunker, came out sideways and did well to drop only one stroke.
The Ulsterman then made instant amends by sinking an eight foot birdie putt on the next, while compatriot Rory McIlroy set off with a par four.
Donald could even go to the head of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time by missing the halfway cut - if, that is, Westwood and Martin Kaymer have bad weeks too.
Kaymer was among the later starters, as were Poulter, Ernie Els, Justin Rose and Paul Casey.
Quiros remained two under after four and was joined by two of the biggest names in European golf - first Clarke when he birdied the 465 yard third and then three-time winner Colin Montgomerie.
Last year's Ryder Cup Captain has not had a top-ten finish for almost three years, but on one of his favourite tracks he mirrored Clarke with birdies at the first and third.
Donald was only one behind after he birdied the long fourth, but although Westwood did the same it followed a bogey in his case and so he was level par.
There was a huge disappointment for England's Paul Waring when, having teed off first and gone top of the leaderboard with birdies at the fourth and fifth, he pulled out with what was thought to be a hand injury following bogeys at the sixth and seventh.
The 26 year old had also retired from the Open de España two weeks ago.
