James Morrison turned in 33 to open up a one-shot lead early on day one of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The Englishman was in the first group off the tenth at Carnoustie - historically the toughest of the three courses the players tackle this week - but he made four birdies in a row to get to four under before dropping a shot on the 18th
Morrison is looking for a good week to secure his playing privileges as he sits 97th on the Race to Dubai Rankings supported by Rolex and has just two events after this week to earn points, although he is well placed on the Access List.
There was then a group of 11 players at two under spread over the three courses to the north east of Edinburgh.
Morrison started with a par but then made those four gains in a row from the 11th to open up a two-shot lead before a bogey on his ninth hole of the day cut his advantage to one.
Fellow Englishman Ben Evans, Spaniard Alejandro Cañizares, Australian Marcus Fraser, American Julian Suri and Frenchman Romain Wattel were all a shot off the lead while also playing Carnoustie.
Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Ryder Cup Captain Thomas Bjørn and Frenchman Joël Stalter were two under playing Kingsbarns, while last week's winner Paul Dunne, Kiwi Ryan Fox and England's Alfie Plant were on the same mark at the Old Course at St Andrews.
There were then 38 players two shots off the lead.
