England’s John Parry set the early tempo as the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open began at Castle Stuart Golf Links.
Parry, who won on The European Tour in France back in 2010 but had to go through Qualifying School to retain his card last winter to retain his card over the winter, carded birdies at the first, second, fifth and sixth.
That was enough to lead by one from compatriot David Howell, Australia's Marcus Fraser, Finland's Mikko Ilonen and defending champion Jeev Milkha Singh.
Singh, who defeated Francesco Molinari in a play-off 12 months ago, had birdied the tenth, 11th and 13th to make the perfect start to his title
defence
, with the Indian needing to win on Sunday to claim the last available place at Muirfield next week.
World Number Eight Phil Mickelson did not find the going so easy, three-putting his opening hole and exclaiming "What in the world was that?" after a
mishit
tee-shot on the next. At one over he was already five behind the early leader.
Mickelson found the perfect response by holing from 15 feet for an eagle on the par five 12th and then making a birdie on the 14th to improve to two under par.
Parry was still setting the pace at the top of the leaderboard thanks to a birdie on the ninth that took him to the turn in 31, one clear of Fraser and South Africa's Jaco van Zyl, who had covered the back nine in 32 thanks to three birdies, an eagle and one bogey.
