Francesco Molinari carded a brilliant 68 for an early share of the clubhouse lead at the US PGA Championship.
Bad visibility delayed the start for over three hours at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.
But, when conditions eventually cleared beside Lake Michigan, the Italian joined Bubba Watson as the early pacesetters.
Molinari is on course for a Ryder Cup debut at The Celtic Manor Resort in October and he birdied two of the last three to match the 68 of left-hander Watson.
“I played well all day and tried to stay out of trouble which is the key in Major golf,” said Omega Mission Hills World Cup winner Molinari. “I have been putting alright and had a good start and just enjoyed myself the rest of the day.
“The highlight was probably the seventh, the long par three with the pin cut close to the lake and I hit a very nice four iron the eight feet and holed the putt.
“It was soft today but I don’t mind soft courses and the greens are running well. I am playing well and hope to enjoy the rest of the week. I need to go and relax tonight as it has been a very long day but I will have time to rest and get some energy back. It was a lot of fun today.”
One behind were Australian Jason Day and Americans Charles Howell III, Ryan Moore and Matt Kuchar.
Scot Martin Laird was one further back and compatriot Stephen Gallacher shot 71, but Paul Casey and Luke Donald handed in 72s - Casey despite chipping in twice. Both were for pars and one followed a near-shank off the 17th tee.
Meanwhile World Number One Tiger Woods returned to form with a one under par 71.
A week ago Woods trailed by ten after day one, so there was the measure of the improvement - yet the round looked as if it was going to be even better.
Woods, needing a top 15 finish to have a chance of qualifying automatically for The Ryder Cup, birdied three of his first four holes and shared the lead at that point.
Dropping back to level par with bogeys on the 15th - his sixth - the long second and short seventh was a big disappointment, but he raised his morale again with a closing birdie.
Woods commented: "I hit the ball pretty good and I felt like I had control - my trajectory was nice and I've not had in a while.
"I just need to keep improving every day."
