Sebastian Söderberg made a brilliant start at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship with seven birdies on the front nine to make the turn in 29. He made two more as well as a bogey on the back nine to take a share of the lead at 8-under.
"It was quite easy the first ten holes or so," said the Swede. "Then you kind of turn around going into the wind and it rained a little bit more.
"I thought I played pretty good the last eight holes as well. I just didn't get close enough, didn't really hole the putts but it felt good to finish with a birdie.
"I've had one or two or three really good rounds for a while, I feel like. There's just always been one or two bad rounds every week. So the weekends, they haven't been what I wanted in the last two months or so.
"I feel like there's a lot of good golf in me so I just have to try to clean up the bad golf a little more and try to get around a little better."
Spain's Adri Arnaus made six birdies and an eagle at the par-5 14th while American Peter Uihlein made eight birdies for their share of the lead.
"At times it felt easy but this course definitely can show its teeth and you've got to be really careful," said Arnaus.
"We continued to play quite good and then we rolled a few putts. A brilliant start, I would say.
"It actually started quite calm and it came around with wind and rain as well. That's really what you are going to expect here so you've just got to embrace the challenge."
Six players are tied in fourth place at 7-under including Scotland's Grant Forrest.
