Joost Luiten holds a one shot lead over Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts and Scotland’s Andrew McArthur after the opening round of the ISPS Handa Wales Open.
While a six under par 65 saw the Dutchman, who has finished fifth and fourth on his last two European Tour starts, top of the leaderboard, The Ryder Cup was also on the agenda.
Of the four members of Europe’s Team competing at The Celtic Manor Resort, Jamie Donaldson's one under par 70 was best, with Thomas Björn level par, Lee Westwood two over and Stephen Gallacher signing for a 78.
Luiten, who came close to qualifying for Paul McGinley’s side, parred his opening eight holes but birdied seven of the next ten - including a 75 foot putt at the 16th - with his only bogey coming at the 17th.
Luiten was defending champion on home soil in the KLM Open last week and admitted he was enjoying being less in demand in Wales.
"Yeah, it's nice and quiet this week here," said Luiten, who finished fifth at Kennemer Golf Club. "My game felt good last week and I played good again today - Hopefully can keep it going for three more.
“Fifth place was good, but of course you want more; every player wants more. Fifth place in your own event is good and you take that form to this week, and I just felt very, very good out there.”
Colsaerts – who hit his drive on the 18th a European Tour record 447 yards - carded eight birdies and an eagle in a fourball win with Westwood at Medinah in 2012 and admitted to pangs of jealousy after seeing the four players and their caddies having dinner with McGinley here on Wednesday evening.
"I saw them having dinner and thought 'I wish I was in that room'," said the 31 year old. "It's their adventure and I am not part of it, but once you play in one Ryder Cup, you don't want to miss another one."
Colsaerts was one over par after seven holes of his round but then made an eagle on the 18th after his massive drive left him with just a wedge into the green on the 575 yard par five.
"I thought it was too far right but it's all downhill and downwind and it must have luged down the fairway," Colsaerts added. "If all the stars align you can hit it a long way."
Gallacher has not played since coming close to securing an automatic qualifying place in the 71° OPEN D'ITALIA Presented by DAMIANI and admitted his performance had not come as a complete surprise.
"I did half expect it," said the 39 year old, who lives just 35 miles from Gleneagles and described preparations there as "manic" on Wednesday. "Generally if I've got something to play for I'll play pretty well. When I go through the motions I'm useless.
"All eyes are on next week and it's hard to put it out of my mind when I'm already in. Once you're in it, I just want it happen. Next week it'll be different, you're in a heightened mood and I'll be better.
"One swallow doesn't make a summer, (so I'm) not really bothered to be honest. I'll just go out tomorrow and try and make a few birdies, see what happens. I'll give it my best shot, I shot 63 around here once (in 2010)."
Playing partner Björn, who birdied two of his last four holes, gave Gallacher a vote of confidence, adding: "I wouldn't be worried by what he did today. He's had a couple of weeks off and, being Scottish and everything, he's so much looking forward to it.
"He was fractionally rusty today and a couple of shots here and there cost him. That's the way it is, he'll get back on his feet. There is enough good stuff in there for him not to worry."
Westwood has also been out of action since failing to advance beyond the first FedEx Cup play-off event and said: "I was basically just rusty. I hit a lot of good putts today that missed, grazed the hole a lot and a few times I hit what I thought were good drives and the fairways were a bit pinched in and they didn't turn out good.
"This week's all about just getting competitive again really. Obviously I would have liked to have shot better than two over par but there were signs of good golf in there. Play well tomorrow hopefully and get another couple of rounds over the week. I do play better after I've played a bit. That's why I try and play the week before a major championship. I like to be competitive. It's serving its purpose this week."
McArthur usually plays on The Challenge Tour and admitted he should be playing in a big event in Kazakhstan this week, but accepted an invitation to play in Wales to be closer to home.
"I'm quite relaxed and don't really have any expectations," he said. "My wife's due to give birth next Friday so I'm lucky to be playing golf at all. Hopefully I can keep hitting good shots until the phone goes. Hopefully it doesn't go till Sunday night."
